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Former England Lock George Kruis Scored A Backheel Conversion

Home> Rugby Union

Published 11:04 20 Jun 2022 GMT+1

Former England Lock George Kruis Scored A Backheel Conversion

The former Saracens second rower was playing in his final game before retirement for the Barbarians when he took the illegal conversion.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

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George Kruis ended his career with an amazing hat-trick of conversions for the Barbarians, against England, including one with a backheel.

Kruis announced earlier this year that he'd be retiring at the end of the season, following his two year spell in Japan, hanging up the boots at just 32-years-old.

His final game came on Sunday afternoon for the Baa Baas, as they took on Eddie Jones' side at Twickenham, as part of their preparation for this summer's tour to Australia.

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The lock was allowed to take a conversion as part of tradition, and the man who won 45 caps for his country didn't disappoint at all, knocking over his first attempt after Baptiste Couilloud had made it 26-11 at the start of the second half.

Max Spring, chosen in the traditional role of a player making their first international appearance for the Barbarians, scored a brilliant try in the 74th minute, giving Kruis another chance to slot home.

The lock stepped up and decided to back heel the ball over the bar, adding two points for his team, and piling on the pain for the team he used to represent.


Whilst it was mightily impressive, and some top notch s**thousery to really rub England noses in it, technically speaking the kick wasn't legal.

According to the laws of the sport, a kick includes any part of the foot other than the heel, but as it was a Baa Baas match it can be forgiven.

The former Panasonic Wild Knights' forward wasn't done there though, as he completed a hat-trick of conversions, and broke his record for the most points he'd scored in an international match.

Kruis knocked over an additional two points after Louis Carbonel had gone over for yet another Barbarians try, to give them a 52-21 win.

Kruis' teammates cheer on his final conversion. Image: Alamy
Kruis' teammates cheer on his final conversion. Image: Alamy

The loss certainly wasn't ideal prep for Eddie Jones' team, especially after such a poor outing in the Six Nations earlier in the year.

Poor performances by some may have cost them the chance to be on the tour to Australia, as Jones made his final summer tour squad announcement, before leaving the role after next year's World Cup, on Monday.

Danny Care, who played as a substitute for his first England appearance in nearly four years on Sunday, was called up to go to the three test series.

Billy Vunipola is back in the squad as well, following an impressive season with Saracens, as is brother Mako, whilst Owen Farrell returns after injury kept him out of the Six Nations.

Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman, Guy Porter, Patrick Schickerling, Jack van Poortvliet and Jack Walker could all make their official debuts, with Freeman and Schickerling involved in the Baa Baa's game.

London Irish youngsters Henry Arundell and Will Joseph will go on the trip as apprentice players.

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/Amazon Prime

Topics: England, Rugby, Rugby Union

Ryan Sidle
Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

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@Sidler28

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