Theunis Lodewicus Kruger

Death Notice TAB 4643/1957

Theuns Kruger
Full names: Theunis Lodewicus
Date of birth: 17 Jun 1896
Place of birth: Steynsburg
Schools: Paarl Boys High Paul Roos Gymnasium
Springbok no: 169
Debut test province: Transvaal
Physical: 1.83m, 90.7kg
Date of death: 6 Jul 1957 (Age 61)

Test summary: Tests: 8 Tries: 0
First Test: 13 Aug 1921 Age:25 Hooker against New Zealand at Carisbrook, Dunedin
Last Test: 21 Jul 1928 Age:32 Hooker against New Zealand at Ellispark, Johannesburg

Test history:
Date Age Position Opponent Result Score Venue Prov
13 Aug 1921 25 Hooker New Zealand Lose: 5-13 Carisbrook, Dunedin Tvl
27 Aug 1921 25 Hooker New Zealand Win: 9-5 Eden Park, Auckland Tvl
16 Aug 1924 28 Hooker Britain Win: 7-3 Kingsmead, Durban Tvl
23 Aug 1924 28 Hooker Britain Win: 17-0 Wanderers (Old Wanderers), Johannesburg Tvl
13 Sep 1924 28 Hooker Britain Draw: 3-3 Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth Tvl
20 Sep 1924 28 Hooker Britain Win: 16-9 Newlands, Cape Town Tvl
30 Jun 1928 32 Hooker New Zealand Win: 17-0 Kingsmead, Durban Tvl
21 Jul 1928 32 Hooker New Zealand Lose: 6-7 Ellispark, Johannesburg Tvl

Theuns Kruger : Doc Craven
Theuns Kruger : Doc Craven
Theuns was produced by the old North Eastern Cape Union, as was Felix du Plessis, Nic du Plessis, Willie Rousseau, Bennie and Stanley Osler.

They all came from this area or went to school there, especially from the town Steynsburg or the surrounding areas. One could argue that environment played a role; the training college there probably helped to formulate and improve the standard of the game in that region.

Be that as it may, his rugby foundation was solidly laid by the time he came to Stellenbosch, and he was already accepted as one of the first specialised hookers. As far back as 1906, Paul Roos hooked, but it was more by accident than design because in those days it was a case of "first come, first down". Kruger was one of the first to realise that a hooker had a prominent, ultimately specialised role to play in a pack of forwards.

Not only was he a grand striker of the ball, but he was deceptively fast and could move around the field at great pace. And that is how he made his name as a great Bok forward. He certainly had the potential to become a Bok captain; indeed he was an excellent captain of Transvaal.

Theuns Krüger : Hamilton SP RFC History
Full name: Theunis Lodewicus Krüger (on his baptismal register his name and his father’s name is given as Teunis)

Born: Steynsburg, 17 June 1896

Deceased: Country Club, Waterkloof, Pretoria, on 6 July 1957. He had a heart attack while playing bowls.

Clubs: Pretoria, Hamiltons

Provinces: Transvaal, Western Province

International career: 1921-28: 8 tests

Theuns Krüger was one of the game’s first specialist hookers, but he was also remarkably fast about the field. He was an outstanding captain of Transvaal. His daughter Leonie married Ryk van Schoor.