A second generation Springbok, Ruan Pienaar, remains a talent at flyhalf or scrumhalf after almost 20 years of professional rugby. Learn more with Rugby365.
Ruan Pienaar Biography
Steadfast rugby veteran, Ruan Pienaar, is a devout Christian and laidback fellow, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he’ll turn the other cheek on the pitch.
The travelled South African was moulded at Grey College, a school known for producing Springboks. He then kicked off his professional career in Durban with the Sharks in 2004.
He stayed at the Sharks for seven years, winning the Currie Cup in 2008 and also gaining his international colours during that time.
Ruan Pienaar made his international debut in 2006 during the Tri-Nations (now The Rugby Championship), a year before winning the Rugby World Cup with the Springboks in 2007.
Among his easy-on-the-eye passing and x-ray vision that reads the game, he is able to kick with both feet. This meant double the trouble for opposition as angled kicks from the touchline were no match for the ambidextrous Springbok.
Ruan Pienaar averaged 3,6 points per game during his time at the Sharks playing in the Super Rugby tournament, and a massive 8,2 points per game in the Currie Cup.
In 2010 he moved abroad to Ulster and due to SARU policies at the time saw his Springbok days come to a temporary close.
His tenure abroad started off well with the seasoned Springbok reaching the final of the top European rugby competition, the European Rugby Champions Cup, in just his second year.
They would also reach the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup for the first time in more than 10 years as well as finishing third in the Celtic League. Ruan Pienaar had definitely made an impact on the success of the side, all of which he would credit to his Creator.
His run at Ulster saw them improve their records and quality exponentially, up until he moved on in 2017 due to policy restrictions for the region.
Along with the policy, the club was in the position of struggling to field youngsters of the appropriate standard since the Springbok’s stellar performance kept him in the starting lineup.
He decided to make the move to Montpellier at the end of the 2017 season and bagged 161 points in 28 appearances.
After two years he finally decided to come home to South African rugby.
The venturesome Springbok, Ruan Pienaar has had an eventful career, and after almost 20 years, he is still going strong.