Ruan Pienaar

For more people with this surname, see Pienaar.

Ruan Pienaar
Rugby union career

Ruan Pienaar in 2014
Full name	Ruan Pienaar
Date of birth	(1984-03-10) 10 March 1984
Place of birth	Bloemfontein, South Africa
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	92 kg (203 lb; 14 st 7 lb)
School	Grey College
Playing career
Position	Scrum-half / Fly-half / Fullback
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2004–10 2010–	Sharks (Currie Cup) Ulster	32 128	(261) (815)
correct as of 3 December 2016.
Super Rugby
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2005–10	Sharks	67	(240)

correct as of 24 November 2012.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2006– 2015	South Africa Springbok XV	88 1	(135) (0)
correct as of 30 October 2015.

Ruan Pienaar (born 10 March 1984 in Bloemfontein) is a South African rugby union footballer who plays either as a scrum-half or as a fly-half who plays for Ulster.^[1]

He is the son of former Springbok fullback Gysie Pienaar.^[2] Ruan is regarded as a very skilful rugby player. Besides being able to pass well, he can kick with both feet, and his vision and running style moved former Springbok coach Jake White to compare him with Australian fly-half Stephen Larkham.^[3]

Pienaar has been part of u19 (2003), u21 (2005) and senior IRB World Cup (2007) winning squads. He also won the Currie Cup in 2008.

International career

Pienaar made his debut for the Springboks in the 2006 Tri-Nations against New Zealand and was a member of the successful 2007 World Cup squad. As he did not play club rugby in South Africa since June 2010 it seemed unlikely that he would be called up again to play for the national team. SARU has a policy of selecting foreign based players in exceptional circumstances only. However, on 20 June 2011 it was reported that Pienaar had been named in South Africa's 49-Man World Cup preliminary training squad.^[4] Pienaar has been an ever present in South Africa squads ever since.

Ruan Pienaar in the Springbok change kit.

Club career

Pienaar played his high school rugby in Bloemfontein, where he attended Grey College. He was selected for the Free State Craven Week side in 2002.

Pienaar played for Sharks in the Currie Cup, the Sharks in Super Rugby prior to joining Ulster.

On 27 May 2010 Ulster announced that they had signed the player on a two-year contract.^[5] Pienaar will play in the Magners League and Heineken Cup along with fellow Springboks Johann Muller, Robbie Diack, Pedrie Wannenburg and BJ Botha at the Belfast based side. He made his Magners League debut on 1 October, scoring all of Ulster's 19 points in their victory over Glasgow Warriors.^[6] Pienaar was named at scrum half in the Magners League Team of the Year for the 2010/11 season and also scooped the Magners League player of the Year award which was voted for by his peers. Pienaar signed a two-year extension to his Ulster contract during this time. Pienaar was again selected at scrum half for the RaboDirect Pro12 Dream Team for the 2011/12 season and was also named captain of the side. In 2012 Pienaar played in the Heineken Cup Final, scoring 9 points in the 42-14 defeat to Leinster. In 2013 he played in the Pro 12 Final, scoring all of Ulster's 18 points in the 24-18 loss to Leinster. In October 2013 despite strong media reports linking him with Toulon,^[7] Pienaar signed a new 3-year extension to his Ulster contract keeping him in Belfast until the end of the 2016/17 season.^[8] No further contracts have been offered due to the IRFU succession policy ^[9]

Personal life

Pienaar is a devout Christian, saying “I have always believed, with my Christianity, that there’s so much more to life than rugby,” and “Being here gives me an enormous sense of purpose. I am not just here for rugby, I’m here to touch lives.” He is the co-founder of a Bible study group for rugby players in South Africa.^[10] He regularly attends the Christian Fellowship Church on the Belmont Road in Belfast.

References

↑ http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16013_6175239,00.html
↑ "Like father, like son". ESPN Scrum. 10 June 2010.
↑ "Is Ruan Pienaar the next Larkham?". Planet-Rugby.com. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
↑ "South Africa name 49 World Cup hopefuls". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
↑ "Ulster announce Ruan Pienaar signing". RTÉ Sport. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
↑ "Ulster 19–17 Glasgow". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24148282
↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24447558
↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37229622
↑ "Five Top Players on God's Rugby Squad". eden.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2014.

External links

Ulster Rugby squad

Forwards	Ah You Andrew R. Best (c) Callum Black Browne Coetzee Diack Donnan Dow Henderson Henry Herbst Herring Jackson Joyce Lutton McCall Mulholland Murphy O'Connor Peikrishvili Rea Reidy Ross Simpson Taggart Treadwell Tuohy Van der Merwe Warwick Wilson

Backs	M. Best Bowe Cave Gilroy Herron Jackson Lloyd Ludik L. Marshall P. Marshall McCloskey McPhillips Nelson Olding Payne Pienaar Piutau Rowley Shanahan Stockdale Trimble Windsor

Coach	Les Kiss

Squads

South Africa squad – 2015 Rugby World Cup

Forwards	Alberts Brits Burger De Jager B. Du Plessis J. Du Plessis Du Toit Etzebeth Kolisi Louw Malherbe Matfield Mtawarira Nyakane Oosthuizen Strauss Vermeulen

Backs	De Allende De Villiers (c) Du Preez Habana Kirchner Kriel Lambie Le Roux Mvovo Paige Pienaar Pietersen Pollard Serfontein (Replaced de Villiers) Steyn

Coach	Head coach: Meyer; Assistant coaches: Loubscher, McFarland, Van Graan

South Africa – 2014 incoming tours

Forwards	Willem Alberts Bakkies Botha Schalk Brits Schalk Burger Marcell Coetzee Lood de Jager Bismarck du Plessis Jannie du Plessis Stephan Lewies Francois Louw Victor Matfield Oupa Mohojé Tendai Mtawarira Trevor Nyakane Coenie Oosthuizen Gurthrö Steenkamp Adriaan Strauss Flip van der Merwe Marcel van der Merwe Duane Vermeulen Did not play: Lourens Adriaanse Siya Kolisi Callie Visagie

Backs	Marnitz Boshoff Fourie du Preez Johan Goosen Bryan Habana Cornal Hendricks Francois Hougaard Zane Kirchner Willie le Roux Lwazi Mvovo Wynand Olivier Ruan Pienaar JP Pietersen Handré Pollard Jan Serfontein Morné Steyn Tour match only: François Steyn Did not play: Juan de Jongh JJ Engelbrecht Paul Jordaan S'bura Sithole

Coach	Heyneke Meyer

South Africa – 2013 outgoing tours

Forwards	Lourens Adriaanse Willem Alberts Bakkies Botha Marcell Coetzee Bismarck du Plessis Pieter-Steph du Toit Eben Etzebeth Siya Kolisi Francois Louw Frans Malherbe Tendai Mtawarira Coenie Oosthuizen Gurthrö Steenkamp Adriaan Strauss Flip van der Merwe Duane Vermeulen Did not play: Jannie du Plessis Frik Kirsten Scarra Ntubeni

Backs	Jean de Villiers Fourie du Preez JJ Engelbrecht Jaque Fourie Bryan Habana Patrick Lambie Willie le Roux Ruan Pienaar JP Pietersen Morné Steyn Did not play: Gio Aplon Johan Goosen Zane Kirchner Louis Schreuder Jan Serfontein Jano Vermaak

Coach	Heyneke Meyer

South Africa – 2013 Rugby Championship

Forwards	Willem Alberts Bismarck du Plessis Jannie du Plessis Eben Etzebeth Siya Kolisi Juandré Kruger Francois Louw Tendai Mtawarira Coenie Oosthuizen Gurthrö Steenkamp Adriaan Strauss Flip van der Merwe Franco van der Merwe Duane Vermeulen Did not play: Lourens Adriaanse Marcell Coetzee Trevor Nyakane Chiliboy Ralepelle

Backs	Bjorn Basson Jean de Villiers Fourie du Preez JJ Engelbrecht Bryan Habana Zane Kirchner Patrick Lambie Willie le Roux Ruan Pienaar Jan Serfontein Morné Steyn Jano Vermaak Did not play: Juan de Jongh Piet van Zyl

Coach	Heyneke Meyer

South Africa – 2013 incoming tours

Forwards	Willem Alberts Arno Botha Marcell Coetzee Bismarck du Plessis Jannie du Plessis Eben Etzebeth Siya Kolisi Juandré Kruger Francois Louw Tendai Mtawarira Trevor Nyakane Coenie Oosthuizen Chiliboy Ralepelle Pierre Spies Adriaan Strauss Flip van der Merwe Did not play: Lourens Adriaanse Pieter-Steph du Toit Lappies Labuschagné Franco van der Merwe

Backs	Bjorn Basson Jean de Villiers JJ Engelbrecht Bryan Habana Patrick Lambie Willie le Roux Ruan Pienaar Jan Serfontein Morné Steyn Piet van Zyl Jano Vermaak Did not play: Gio Aplon Juan de Jongh Robert Ebersohn Francois Hougaard Zane Kirchner Lwazi Mvovo Louis Schreuder

Coach	Heyneke Meyer

South Africa – 2012 outgoing tours

Forwards	Willem Alberts Schalk Brits Pat Cilliers Marcell Coetzee Jannie du Plessis Eben Etzebeth Juandré Kruger Francois Louw Gurthrö Steenkamp Adriaan Strauss CJ van der Linde Flip van der Merwe Heinke van der Merwe Duane Vermeulen Did not play: Arno Botha JC Janse van Rensburg Frans Malherbe Tendai Mtawarira Chiliboy Ralepelle Franco van der Merwe

Backs	Juan de Jongh Jean de Villiers Francois Hougaard Zane Kirchner Patrick Lambie Ruan Pienaar JP Pietersen Morné Steyn Jaco Taute Did not play: Elton Jantjies Lionel Mapoe Lwazi Mvovo Raymond Rhule Jano Vermaak

Coach	Heyneke Meyer

South Africa – 2012 Rugby Championship

Forwards	Willem Alberts Andries Bekker Pat Cilliers Marcell Coetzee Keegan Daniel Bismarck du Plessis Jannie du Plessis Eben Etzebeth Dean Greyling Juandré Kruger Tiaan Liebenberg Francois Louw Tendai Mtawarira Coenie Oosthuizen Jacques Potgieter Adriaan Strauss Flip van der Merwe Duane Vermeulen Did not play: Craig Burden Siya Kolisi Frans Malherbe Chiliboy Ralepelle Pierre Spies

Backs	Juan de Jongh Jean de Villiers JJ Engelbrecht Johan Goosen Bryan Habana Francois Hougaard Elton Jantjies Zane Kirchner Patrick Lambie Lwazi Mvovo Ruan Pienaar François Steyn Morné Steyn Jaco Taute Did not play: Jano Vermaak

Coach	Heyneke Meyer

South Africa – 2012 incoming tours

Forwards	Willem Alberts Marcell Coetzee Keegan Daniel Bismarck du Plessis Jannie du Plessis Eben Etzebeth Ryan Kankowski Juandré Kruger Werner Kruger Tendai Mtawarira Coenie Oosthuizen Jacques Potgieter Pierre Spies Adriaan Strauss Flip van der Merwe Did not play: Dean Greyling Chiliboy Ralepelle Franco van der Merwe

Backs	Gio Aplon Jean de Villiers Bryan Habana Francois Hougaard Zane Kirchner Patrick Lambie Wynand Olivier Ruan Pienaar JP Pietersen François Steyn Morné Steyn Did not play: Bjorn Basson JJ Engelbrecht Elton Jantjies Lwazi Mvovo Joe Pietersen Jano Vermaak

Coach	Heyneke Meyer

South Africa squad – 2011 Rugby World Cup

Forwards	Alberts Botha Brüssow Burger B. du Plessis J. du Plessis Louw Matfield (vc) Mtawarira Muller Ralepelle Rossouw Smit (c) Spies Steenkamp van der Linde

Backs	Aplon de Jongh J. de Villiers du Preez Fourie Habana Hougaard James Kirchner Lambie Ndungane Pienaar Pietersen F. Steyn M. Steyn

Coach	P. de Villiers

South Africa squad – 2007 Rugby World Cup Winners (2nd Title)

Forwards	B. Botha BJ Botha (injured) G. Botha Burger B. du Plessis J. du Plessis (sub) du Randt Matfield (vc) Muller Rossouw Skinstad Smit (c) Smith Steenkamp van den Berg van der Linde van Heerden

Backs	de Villiers (injured) du Preez Fourie Habana James Januarie Julies (sub) Montgomery Ndungane Olivier Pienaar Pietersen Pretorius Steyn Willemse

Coach	White

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