Deans signs England lock

After luring All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock to Japan, Kiwi coach Robbie Deans has now signed England’s George Kruis to bolster his second row stocks at the Panasonic Wild Knights. Kruis, who played against Whitelock in the All Blacks’ drawn 2017 series against the British and Irish Lions and in the 2019 World Cup semifinal, has signed a one-year contract with an option for a second season. The deal is worth $900,000 a year (£450,000) per season, according to The Daily Telegraph newspaper. Whitelock joined Panasonic this year on a one-season sabbatical, but returned to his Hawke’s Bay farm during the coronavirus lockdown and is now preparing for play for the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition due to kick off in June.