Two-time Springbok world champion Jesse Kriel believes that playing his club rugby in Japan and maintaining top fitness can help extend his career by another eight years.
Kriel and Damian de Allende broke the Bok midfield partnership record held by Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie when they ran out together in Saturday’sThe clash at Kings Park marked De Allende and Kriel’s 30th Test as a partnership, nine years after their first match together against the Wallabies in Brisbane in the 2015 Rugby Championship.“I would like to play for another eight years, or as long as I can,” said Kriel, a key member of the Boks’ back-to-back titles wins in 2019 and 2023.
Kriel believes Japanese rugby, where he plays for the Canon Eagles, enhances his conditioning: “Japanese club rugby is not as physical as Test rugby, but the league is very competitive. You have plenty of time to work on your game. The ball is in play for long periods, which helps on offence and defence.”
The former Vodacom Bulls star aims to play in Japan for at least the next two seasons, focusing on being in top form for the 2027 World Cup. “The next cycle of four years drives me to get up in the mornings,” he said.
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