{{Short description|South African rugby union player}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{Infobox rugby union biography | name = Robert Kruger | image = Robert Kruger 2018b.jpg | fullname = Robert Albertus Kruger | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|04|28}} | birth_place = Johannesburg, South Africa | height = {{height|m=1.92}} | weight = {{convert|105|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = Standerton High School, Standerton | university = North-West University | relatives = | position = Flanker / Number 8 / Lock | currentclub = {{Rut|Leopards}} | youthyears1 = 2004–2006 | youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Pumas}} | youthyears2 = 2007–2008 | youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Leopards}} | youthyears3 = 2009 | youthclubs3 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}} | years1 = 2009–2011 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Golden Lions XV}} | apps1 = 5 | points1 = 5 | years2 = 2009–2010 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}} | apps2 = 4 | points2 = 0 | years3 = 2009–2010 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Lions}} | apps3 = 9 | points3 = 0 | years4 = 2011–2015 | clubs4 = {{Rut|Leopards}} | apps4 = 48 | points4 = 20 | years5 = 2013–2014 | clubs5 = {{Rut|Leopards XV}} | apps5 = 13 | points5 = 10 | years6 = 2015–2019 | clubs6 = {{Rut|Lions}} | apps6 = 25 | points6 = 0 | years7 = 2016–2018 | clubs7 = {{Rut|Golden Lions XV}} | apps7 = 16 | points7 = 0 | years8 = 2017 | clubs8 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}} | apps8 = 9 | points8 = 5 | years9 = 2018–2020 | clubs9 = NTT Communications Shining Arcs | apps9 = 13 | points9 = 10 | years10 = 2021 | clubs10 = Toyota Industries Shuttles | apps10 = 6 | points10 = 10 | years11 = 2022– | clubs11 = {{Rut|Leopards}} | apps11 = | points11 = | clubupdate = 3 April 2022 }}

'''Robert Albertus Kruger''' (born 28 April 1988 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player for NTT Communications Shining Arcs in the Top League in Japan.<ref name="SARU Player Profile Robert Kruger">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=35398 | name=Robert Kruger | date=29 May 2016}}</ref> His regular position is a flanker, but he has occasionally played as a lock or number eight.

==Career==

===Youth===

Playing his schoolboy rugby for Standerton High School, Kruger was included in several youth tournaments for his provincial side, the Mpumalanga {{Rut|Pumas}}, playing at the 2004 Under-16 Grant Khomo Week, at the 2005 Under-18 Academy Week and the 2006 Under-18 Craven Week tournaments.<ref name="Jong maanhare sonder vuurvreter-kaptein, maar wil steeds naels teen Pumas slyp">{{cite web | url=http://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/beeld/2006/07/13/B1/30/ercraven6.html | title=Jong maanhare sonder vuurvreter-kaptein, maar wil steeds naels teen Pumas slyp | publisher=Beeld | date=13 July 2006 | accessdate=28 May 2014 | language=Afrikaans | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529052812/http://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/beeld/2006/07/13/B1/30/ercraven6.html | archivedate=29 May 2014 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

At the start of 2007, Kruger joined Potchefstroom-based side the {{Rut|Leopards}}. He played for the {{Rut|Leopards U19}} team in the 2007 Under-19 Provincial Championship and for the {{Rut|Leopards U21}} team in the 2008 Under-21 Provincial Championship.

===Golden Lions===

In 2009, Kruger moved to Johannesburg to join the {{Rut|Golden Lions}}. He made his first class debut for them during the 2009 Vodacom Cup competition, starting their match in Potchefstroom against former side the {{Rut|Leopards}}.<ref name="Platinum Leopards 11-10 Golden Lions">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=17214 | homeid=7424 | awayid=7425 | leagueid=718 | hometeam=Platinum Leopards | homescore=11 | awayscore=10 | awayteam=Golden Lions | matchdate=14 March 2009 | date=2 December 2016}}</ref> Six days later, he started their match against the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} in Pretoria and scored the opening try of the match, but could not prevent the Golden Lions suffering a 20–19 defeat.<ref name="Blue Bulls 20-19 Golden Lions">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=17324 | homeid=7418 | awayid=7425 | leagueid=718 | hometeam=Blue Bulls | homescore=20 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=Golden Lions | matchdate=20 March 2009 | date=2 December 2016}}</ref>

With just the two first class matches behind his name, Kruger was drafted into the {{Rut|Lions}} Super 14 squad for the 2009 Super 14 season and included in their touring squad that travelled to Australasia. He made his Super Rugby debut on New Zealand soil in a match against the {{Rut|Blues}} in Auckland, coming off the bench on the hour mark.<ref name="Blues 36-12 Auto & General Lions">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=17013 | homeid=7372 | awayid=7367 | leagueid=716 | hometeam=Blues | homescore=36 | awayscore=12 | awayteam=Auto & General Lions | matchdate=10 April 2009 | date=2 December 2016}}</ref> Despite getting sin-binned in their next match, a 31–20 victory against the {{Rut|Reds}} in Brisbane,<ref name="Reds 20-31 Auto & General Lions">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=17022 | homeid=7371 | awayid=7367 | leagueid=716 | hometeam=Reds | homescore=20 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=Auto & General Lions | matchdate=18 April 2009 | date=2 December 2016}}</ref> Kruger was promoted to the starting line-up for the first time the following week against the {{Rut|Force}} in Perth.<ref name="Western Force 55-14 Auto & General Lions">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=17028 | homeid=7369 | awayid=7367 | leagueid=716 | hometeam=Western Force | homescore=55 | awayscore=14 | awayteam=Auto & General Lions | matchdate=24 April 2009 | date=2 December 2016}}</ref> Upon their return to South Africa, Kruger made a further two starts and one appearance off the bench.

He made his Currie Cup debut in July of the same year, coming off the bench against the {{Rut|Bulls}} in Pretoria.<ref name="Vodacom Blue Bulls 19-13 Xerox Lions">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=17418 | homeid=7606 | awayid=7607 | leagueid=733 | hometeam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | homescore=19 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=Xerox Lions | matchdate=11 July 2009 | date=2 December 2016}}</ref>

===Leopards===

However, he failed to establish himself as a regular for the {{Rut|Golden Lions}}, either domestically or in the Super Rugby, and returned to Potchefstroom to rejoin the {{Rut|Leopards}} prior to the 2011 Currie Cup First Division season.<ref name="Luiperds lok 3 jong Bulle">{{cite web | url=http://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/beeld/2010/11/18/B1/24/pjLuiperds.html | title=Luiperds lok 3 jong Bulle | publisher=Beeld | date=18 November 2010 | accessdate=28 May 2014 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529052632/http://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/beeld/2010/11/18/B1/24/pjLuiperds.html | archivedate=29 May 2014 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> There, he immediately established himself in the first team in both the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup competitions.

He was once again called up to the {{Rut|Lions}} Super Rugby side for their 2015 Super Rugby season. He played off the bench for the Lions in their first match of the season in an 8–22 loss to the {{Rut|Hurricanes}} to make his first appearance in the competition after a four-season absence.<ref name="Emirates Lions 8-22 Hurricanes">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=135684 | homeid=23264 | awayid=23314 | leagueid=2174 | hometeam=Emirates Lions | homescore=8 | awayscore=22 | awayteam=Hurricanes | matchdate=13 February 2015 | date=2 December 2016}}</ref>

He was a member of the {{Rut|Leopards}} team that won the 2015 Currie Cup First Division.<ref name="Leopards clinch Absa Currie Cup First Division title in style">{{cite web | url=http://www.sarugby.net/news/24198?view=news&leagueId=2334 | title=Leopards clinch Absa Currie Cup First Division title in style | work=South African Rugby Union | date=8 October 2015 | accessdate=8 October 2015 | archive-date=13 October 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013081813/http://www.sarugby.net/news/24198?view=news | url-status=dead }}</ref> He featured in a total of twelve matches during the 2015 Currie Cup qualification rounds and First Division proper and scored two tries for the side. He also started the final, where he helped the Leopards to a 44–20 victory over the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}} to win the competition for the first time in their history.

He was named the Leopards' Player of the Year for 2015, the second time he received this accolade.<ref name="Luiperds se Speler van die Jaar word 'n Haai">{{cite web | url=http://www.netwerk24.com/sport/rugby/2015-10-29-luiperd-se-kolle-word-nou-n-vin | title=Luiperds se Speler van die Jaar word 'n Haai | work=Netwerk24 | date=29 October 2015 | accessdate=29 October 2015 | language=Afrikaans }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kruger, Robert}} Category:South African rugby union players Category:Living people Category:1988 births Category:Rugby union players from Johannesburg Category:Leopards (rugby union) players Category:Lions (United Rugby Championship) players Category:Rugby union flankers Category:Rugby union locks Category:Rugby union number eights Category:Urayasu D-Rocks players Category:Toyota Industries Corporation Shuttles Aichi players Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in Japan Category:21st-century South African sportsmen