George Kruis

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George Kruis
Birth nameGeorge Kruis
Date of birth (1990-02-22) 22 February 1990 (age 34)
Place of birthGuildford, Surrey, England
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight118 kg (18 st 8 lb; 260 lb)
SchoolSt John's School, Leatherhead
UniversityUniversity of Hertfordshire
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Saracens
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009– Saracens 103 (25)
Correct as of 27 August 2015
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010
2013
2014–
2017		 England U20
England A
England
British and Irish Lions 2017		 9
2
20
1		 (0)
(0)
(5)
(0)
Correct as of 26 November 2016

George Kruis (born 22 February 1990) is a professional rugby union player for England and Saracens in the Aviva Premiership.[1][2]

He was born in Guildford, Surrey and was educated at St John's School, Leatherhead.[3] He played all of his youth rugby for Dorking RFC.

His primary position is as a second row, but he is also able to play at blindside flanker or at number 8. He is almost always used as a jumper in the line-out due to his height and athleticism.

Kruis was eligible to play for Germany as his grandfather, Leo, is German.

Rugby career

Youth Rugby

Kruis was a relatively late developer in both physique and rugby terms, not really coming into his own until his sixth form years at School. In the Spring of 2007 Kruis and his Dorking RFC U17 team mates won the U17 National Cup beating Altrincham Kersal in the Final at Sixways Stadium, Worcester. He continued his rapid ascent and enjoyed an exceptional season for the St John's, Leatherhead 1st XV in the Autumn/Winter 2007, being selected to captain Surrey U18s. With some strong showings for the county he impressed enough to gain selection for London and South East U18s in the annual Divisional tournament at Broadstreet RFC.[4] He started every game in the second row, captaining the team and scoring three tries in the final fixture against South West U18s.[5]

2008–09 Season

He was offered a trial with Saracens in the summer of 2008. Having played in the A League fixtures, Kruis impressed and was kept on until the end of the 2008/09 season. He was also dual registered with Barking RFC during this season.[6] Later in the season he agreed a 2-year professional contract covering the 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons. He joined Saracens full-time from 1 July 2009.

2009–10 Season

In the 2009/10 season Kruis prospered under the trust shown in him by the Saracens staff. He made his debut in November 2009 in the LV= Cup against Northampton Saints[7] and was the standout player for the Saracens Storm (A Team) being awarded the Saracens Storm Player of the Year.[8] To cap this season off he made his debut for England U20 in the 2010 U20 RBS Six Nations coming off the bench against Italy and Ireland respectively.[9] He was then selected in the England U20 World Championship squad that travelled to Argentina.[10][11] He played in all five games, starting three (Ireland,[12][13] France,[14] South Africa) and coming on as a replacement in two (Argentina,[15] Australia[16]). England lost in the semi-finals to Australia and ended up coming 4th overall having lost to South Africa in the 3rd/4th playoff. Kruis was also duel registered with Barking RFC again.

2010–11 Season

Kruis saw continued first team action in the 2010/2011 season, making his premiership debut against London Irish in the London Double Header.[17] Kruis also made his Heineken Cup debut playing in both the home and away fixtures against Racing Metro.[18][19] This promising season was put on hold when Kruis fracture-dislocated his right wrist playing in a Saracens Storm match in early January. After surgery and a prolonged period of rehabilitation he made a comeback in April playing for Bedford Blues in the culmination of the Championship season and the British and Irish Cup Final.[20] Kruis also signed a new deal with Saracens.[21]

2011–12 Season

After a strong pre-season and with the Rugby World Cup in progress, Kruis has now grown into a secure first team player at the North London club. He has already made 14 first team appearances in the 2011 season to date (January 2012)[22][23][24] underlining his growing reputation within Saracens and England. Kruis started in the 'Big Game 4' against Harlequins at Twickenham. It was watched by 82,000 people, creating a new world record for the largest attended regular season rugby match in the world.[25] Kruis gained his first ever Aviva Premiership Man of the Match award against London Wasps on 12 February 2012, having been chosen by ESPN commentator Ben Kay.[26] Kruis then remarkably doubled this feat a week later when, against Leicester Tigers on 19 February 2012, he was awarded Man of the Match live on Sky Sports by commentator Stuart Barnes. Kruis finished off the season well for Saracens before playing in the Heineken Cup Quarter Final and Aviva Premiership Semi Final losses to Clermont Auvergne and Leicester Tigers respectively.

2012–2013 Season

With Kruis having increased in bulk over the pre-season programme many[who?] were tipping him for further recognition; this was until he suffered a small tear to his medial ligament playing in the JP Morgan Premiership 7s event at the Stoop. After 10 weeks out injured, he was back into first team recognition. Playing at blindside flanker, Kruis was named Man of the Match against Munster in the Heineken Cup by Sky Sports analyst Stuart Barnes. His impressive form was noticed by the England coaching set up and he was duly called up to the England Saxons squad in January as an injury replacement for Tom Palmer.[27] Kruis was then subsequently picked to start, and make his Saxons debut, at blindside flanker against the Ireland Wolfhounds (Ireland A) in Galway on 25 January 2013.[28] England Saxons won the match 10–14. He has since been picked again at blindside flanker for the Saxons against Scotland A at Kingston Park, Newcastle on 1 February 2013.[29] Scotland A snatched the win 9–13 in an attritional contest.

International career

On 22 October 2014, Kruis was named in a 33-member England Performance Squad for the upcoming Autumn Internationals.

He made his international debut against New Zealand at Twickenham on 8 November 2014, coming on as a replacement.

Since Eddie Jones took over as England's head coach, Kruis has established himself as the country's first choice lock.[30] In the recent Calcutta Cup match in the 2016 6 Nations competition, Kruis scored the opening try against Scotland[31]

Kruis' international standing increased when he was selected for the British and Irish Lions 2017 tour of New Zealand and named in the starting line-up for the First Test at Eden Park on Saturday 24 June.

References

  1. ^ "Saracens First Team Squad and the King of Canada Profile". Saracens Ltd. Archived from the original on 8 September 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "George Kruis | Rugby Union | Players and Officials". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  3. ^ "Rugby glory for pupils past and present | St John's School Leatherhead". Stjohnsleatherhead.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2011.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Trialists 18 Group 2005". London-and-southeast-rugby.org.uk. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Match reports – from the December 2007 Regional Festival". London-and-southeast-rugby.org.uk. 30 December 2007. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Young star Kruis leaves Big Field | This is Surrey". Thisissurreytoday.co.uk. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  7. ^ "Northampton Saints send Saracens to first defeat in LV Anglo Welsh Cup (From Watford Observer)". Watfordobserver.co.uk. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  8. ^ "England Saxon Brad Barritt named Saracens' player of the year (From Enfield Independent)". Enfieldindependent.co.uk. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  9. ^ Wood, Duncan (20 April 2010). "Gloucester Rugby Club : Gloucester trio set for U20 World Cup in Argentina". Gloucesterrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  10. ^ Sportsbeat (10 February 2010). "Official RBS 6 Nations Rugby : Under-20 coach Mapletoft wants to keep momentum despite changes". Rbs6nations.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "England Under 20 Squad 2010 JWC » Rugby World Cup News". Worldrugbynews.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2011.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ "Rugby Union – ESPN Scrum – England Under-20s v Ireland Under-20s, Jun 9, 2010". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  13. ^ "VIDEO – England U20 defeat Ireland for second JWC win". Rfu.com. 9 June 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2011.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "Rugby Union – ESPN Scrum – England Under-20s v France Under-20s, Jun 13, 2010". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  15. ^ "Rugby Union – ESPN Scrum – Argentina Under-20s v England Under-20s, Jun 5, 2010". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  16. ^ "Rugby Union – ESPN Scrum – Australia Under-20s v England Under-20s, Jun 17, 2010". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  17. ^ "Rugby News | Rugby Union News | RFU News | Rugby Lions | Orange UK". Orange.planet-rugby.com. 26 September 2006. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "ERC : Match Centre : Heineken Cup : Racing Metro claim first away win". Ercrugby.com. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  19. ^ "Rugby Union News | Match Preview | Saracens v Racing Metro 92 – 11th December 2010". Sky Sports. 11 December 2010. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "Bristol beat Bedford to win British and Irish Cup".
  21. ^ "BBC Sport – Rugby Union – Owen Farrell among six new Saracens deals". BBC News. 13 January 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  22. ^ "Saracens 25 Newcastle 5: Defending champions ease to win but fail to collect bonus point | Mail Online". London: Dailymail.co.uk. 9 October 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  23. ^ "Match Report: 03 Sep 2011 London Wasps v Saracens – London Wasps". Wasps.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ "Match Preview | Leicester v Saracens – 24th September 2011 | Sky Sports | Rugby Union News". Sky Sports. 23 September 2011. Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "Harlequins 11–19 Saracens". BBC News. 27 December 2011.
  26. ^ "George Kruis: We really proved we could stick together". ESPN.co.uk.[permanent dead link]
  27. ^ "Kvesic, Botha and Monye training with England in Leeds". RFU. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ "VIDEO – Five new faces make England Saxons debuts in Galway". RFU. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ "May and Mullan in Saxons' starting line-up". RFU. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ "Italy vs England George Kruis ready for a 'scrap' against Italy". 13 February 2016.
  31. ^ "Scotland 9-15 England: George Kruis and Jack Nowell score tries".
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