George Kruis has now officially retired from rugby following his appearance for the Barbarians at Twickenham last Sunday.
The former England and Saracens lock spent the last two years with Japanese club Panasonic Wild Knights after winning 45 caps for his country from 2014 to 2020.
Having spent the week at a friend’s wedding, the 32-year-old revealed despite his official ‘retirement’ he will now be busier than ever with his nutrition business.
“I have been planning my next chapter for a good while so it has not come as too much of a shock but even the first week has been pretty different!” said Kruis.
“It’s knackering and a completely different type of tiredness compared to a fitness session on a Tuesday afternoon.
“Luckily wellness and providing game-changing nutrition is something I am passionate about so I have an easy motivator to get me up in the morning. At fourfive we have a great team-building and there’s so much cross-over between pro sport and business which I am enjoying unpicking.
Kruis, who scored three conversions against England including a controversial backheel conversion, also revealed how he celebrated, which included a conversation with his former head coach.
“The french members of the Baa-baas team had to fly back that night for their Japan tour so I spent a good bit of time with friends and family that came to watch the game and then went to catch up with Saracens mates who were out and about.
“I did manage to catch up with Eddie and a good amount of the group after the game. It was great to see some of the older teammates there but also catch up with the exciting young players coming through.
“If I’m honest, I’m just about getting over the soreness of Tom curry and Jack Nowell’s bumping me every 10 minutes!”
On the back-heel, he said: “I am not too sure, I’ve always wanted to try it but have never had the opportunity. I am just glad it went over!
” I am a huge believer that the Barbarians games are great for rugby and should continue to show the lighter and more humorous side of rugby.
“It was an epic week on and off the field and would encourage any player to get stuck in if they have the opportunity.”
EDITORS PICKS:
- Danny Cipriani’s move to US stalls with new destination revealed
- George Kruis conversion: Second-row slots back-heel kick
- England player ratings vs Barbarians: Eddie Jones men very poor
- Revealed: The greatest ever Barbarians XV
Rugby players jobs before becoming stars revealed
Rugby isn’t all glitz and glamour, y’know.
Sometimes we should take time to appreciate those rugby players who plied their trade elsewhere before hitting the jackpot in the game we all love.
In an era where you only make it if you dedicate your life to it, it’s rare to find players who just months prior to their professional career were grinding the 9-5.
With that in mind, here are five players, of varying abilities, who made it professionally.
1. Liam Williams – Scaffolder
This is the picture that illustrates the heights Williams has scaled to reach international rugby, starting off as a scaffolder. It wasn’t work for the faint-hearted, with Williams rigging scaffolding “over the top of a blast furnace, 300 feet from the ground” back in Wales.
