Springbok and Northern Bulls lock Juandre Kruger will join French club Racing Metro after the 2013 Super 15 season, his province says.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke admitted the Pretoria-based Bulls could not match the financial offer of Racing, who lost Springbok utility back Francois Steyn to Durban Super 15 outfit Coastal Sharks this year.
“Juandre received a great offer that we could not match,” admitted Ludeke. “With an unfavourable exchange rate at the moment, it is very difficult to compete financially with European clubs.”
Kruger quickly established himself as a first-choice lock for the Springboks this year with Western Stormers’ Eben Etzebeth after the retirement of Victor Matfield and the move of Bakkies Botha to France.