Another Bull returns from Europe
Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:07
Returning home: Juandre Kruger (right) with fellow Saint Regardt Dreyer
Another high-profile Bull is returning from a European sojourn to continue his career in Pretoria. The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd announced on Monday that they have secured the services of Juandré Kruger, who is currently playing in the English Premiership for the Northampton Saints.
Kruger will join the Blue Bulls in the beginning of June 2010 and his contract expires in May 2013.
He follows on the heels of Springbok hooker Gary Botha, who returned from English club Harlequins, to join the Bulls for this year's Super 14 series.
Kruger starred for the Blue Bulls in 19 matches in 2008 after which he departed for Europe, but he has been one of the Bulls' stalwarts during his time at Loftus and it is great news that he will join up with his former teammates.
The 24-year-old is a product of Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch and he first tasted senior provincial rugby in 2007 when he played a couple of matches for Western Province.
He won the European Challenge Cup with the Northampton Saints in 2009 and they are currently in a good position on the log in the Heineken Cup, Premiership as well as Anglo Welsh Cup.
Kruger said that Loftus Versfeld is the place where he wants to be and he believes the Bulls are the best team and franchise in the world.
"The coaching staff, the management team, the facilities and the whole culture at Loftus is every rugby player's dream and I am very excited about my second spell with the Bulls," he said in an interview on the Bulls' website.
"What I have experienced at the Bulls in 2008 is something that I do not want to exchange for anything. I would like to make a substantial contribution to the Bulls when I arrive in June and ultimately I want to represent South Africa."
Kruger played with fellow South Africans such as Brett Sharman, Regardt Dreyer and Brian Mujati at Saints and the fact that coaches like Jim Mallinder, Dorian West and Paul Grayson wholeheartedly believed in him, meant that he could maximise his potential in the Northern Hemisphere.
"In Europe you play against international opposition in every match. That had the result that I picked up a lot of experience and the Heineken Cup forced me to sharpen up my line-out play as well as my decision making and contact skills."
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