Bokdle #22: 23 Oct 2026

The mystery green and gold player on 23 Oct 2026 was Ruben Kruger: Test player #596 · Flanker · 36 caps · 7 tries · 1× World Cup winner · School: Grey College, Bloemfontein.

Ruben Kruger was the quiet, relentless flanker of South Africa's 1995 World Cup-winning pack, a player admired as much for his work rate as for his tries. Born in Vrede in the Free State in March 1970, he went to Grey College in Bloemfontein, played for the Free State at Craven Week in 1987 and 1988, and was picked for South African Schools in both years.

From Free State to Loftus

Kruger made his senior debut for Free State in 1991 and moved to Northern Transvaal in 1993, where he played close to a hundred games and later turned out for the Bulls in Super Rugby. His Test debut came in Buenos Aires in November 1993, a narrow 29–26 win over Argentina, and he quickly became a fixture at flanker: 34 of his 36 Tests were starts.

1995

At the home World Cup Kruger was one of the stars of the pack. He scored a try in the rain-soaked semi-final against France in Durban, and started the final at Ellis Park, where South Africa beat New Zealand 15–12 in extra time. He was named SARFU Player of the Year for 1995.

The later years

He played in both Tests the Springboks lost to the British and Irish Lions in 1997, and was part of Nick Mallett's side. His last Test was the 1999 World Cup third-place play-off in Cardiff, a 22–18 win over New Zealand, where he came off the bench. Not long afterwards he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He lived with the illness for about ten years, and died in Pretoria in January 2010, aged 39.

Test record

From bokhist.com's Test-by-Test list:

• Springbok number: 596
• Debut: 6 November 1993, aged 23, at flanker against Argentina at Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium, Buenos Aires (won 29–26)
• Last Test: 4 November 1999, aged 29, off the bench against New Zealand at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff (won 22–18)
• Tests: 36: 34 starts and 2 off the bench
• Results: 25 wins and 11 losses, a winning rate of 69%
• Starts by position: flanker 34
• Most often played against: New Zealand (10 Tests)

Did you know?

• He scored 7 Test tries, a good return for a flanker in the 1990s.
• In Invictus (2009) he was played by Grant Roberts.
• He was also named in South Africa's squad for the 1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Sources: bokhist.com, en.wikipedia.org

How everyone did

1 730 players finished this puzzle and 82% solved it, in 5.1 guesses on average. 31% used a hint.

Play today's Bokdle