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George Kruis isn't that bothered to be playing final game of rugby
By Ian Cameron
George Kruis admits his career swansong at Twickenham on Sunday could prove an emotional occasion.
The ex-England and Saracens lock will hang up his boots after a final run-out with the Barbarians against his former international team-mates.
At the age of just 32, Kruis has taken a decision to walk away from the game relatively early and focus on his business interests.
For someone capable of such a level-headed choice, the small matter of playing rugby for one last time is itself unlikely to bother him sentimentally.
Yet with a large group of family and friends in attendance, he concedes it could be a different story.
“I probably don’t have too many emotions as a person myself but having 80 or so friends or family watching I’m sure will be emotional,” said Kruis, a 2019 World Cup finalist who has spent the past two years with Japanese club Panasonic Wild Knights.
“And I enjoy the fact that rugby can bring experiences to other people, or bring people out of the house.
“That side of it will be a little bit emotional but, in terms of playing a last game, I don’t think it should be too much.
“I’m loving it. It will be a nice memory. I’m pretty lucky to have had a good career and to have so many family and friends come in to watch my last game.
“A player would always want to play for the Barbarians and for it to be my last game will be quite nice.”
Kruis, who won 45 England caps, will now spend more time on his developing CBD and vitamin supplement company.
He has not closed the door completely on a return to the game but he feels it is very much the right time to move on.
“I’d never say never but this last year has been tough, trying really hard to focus on something outside of rugby as well as inside,” said Kruis, who will line up in the second row alongside his former Saracens team-mate Will Skelton, the Australian, in a side otherwise dominated by Grand Slam-winners France.
“Over a season you start to see the effects of trying to juggle a couple of things full-time.
“So, I’d never say never but I wouldn’t do it alongside anything else.”
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Latest Comments
I'm honestly not so sure. I initially thought just reckless mainly because no player should be capable of doing that intentionally.
There's a strong argument that he's working both the eyes. It's his left hand he uses which is furthest from the ball he's contesting. His fingers are also clenched which I don't think is a natural way to try and rip a ball.
Go to comments"I see those teams, SA in particular, as only improving their performances in EPCR."
well, its gone the opposite direction so far!
"I don't like your model that requires them to reach Semi Final level in the Challenge trophy, given the bottleneck that will be URC with 16 teams playing for only 4 places."
my model would have given SA 3 spots in a 16 team CC this year, which is the same number as they have in the 24 team version that is actually taking place. But yes, if they keep getting worse it would get harder for them to get places. It would also get harder for you to argue that they deserve places though!
"I suggest by giving say Englands two semi finalist first seeds of the english teams, then the next best 4 on the league table as much better (it catches improving teams faster)."
interesting argument, but it doesn't always go that way. Gloucester are improving, but they improved in cup competitions before league fixtures started going their way. The same is true of Sharks, and the same was true of la Rochelle. I think maybe this is just an argument for allowing more teams to qualify via the challenge cup!
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