South Africa
Ruan Pienaar
Nationality
Age
40
Position
Scrum Half
Height
186cm
Weight
92kg
News
Latest
1774d Pro14
Pienaar's Cheetahs tour to Ireland coincides with poignant family anniversary
1844d Pro14
'It brings life into perspective and what really is important' - Ruan Pienaar's silver lining after tragic start to 2019
1883d Pro14
Red card opens the door for Farrell to strike late for Connacht
1985d Cheetahs
Cheetahs make a splash by signing four more players ahead of new PRO14 season
2003d Top 14
Montpellier plug the Pienaar gap by recruiting a Samoan from the Premiership
2090d Top 14
Pienaar back at Montpellier following compassionate leave, but his future looks uncertain
Bio
Renowned for his skilful passing and his ability to kick with both feet, Ruan Pienaar is a true great of South African rugby. He's won the Rugby World Cup at U19, U21 and senior level and he currently plies his trade for the Sharks, where he is on loan from the Free State Cheetahs and Cheetahs. Ruan Pienaar was inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame in 2021.
Throughout his distinguished domestic career, Ruan Pienaar has represented some of the world's finest sides. He played for the Sharks in the Currie Cup and Super Rugby until 2010, when he moved to Europe. Here, he represented Ulster between 2010 and 2017 and Montpellier between 2017 and 2019. At Ulster, he's regarded as a club legend.
In 2019, Ruan Pienaar returned to South Africa and signed with the Free State Cheetahs. A year later, he also began to represent the Cheetahs. From 2021, he joined the Sharks on loan.
As well as enjoying a highly decorated domestic career, Ruan Pienaar has also been a force at the international level. Between 2006 and 2015, he featured in 88 test matches for the Springboks and won the Rugby World Cup with the side in 2007. This followed his successes at the junior level, where he also won the U19 and U21 Rugby World Cups.
With several years of elite rugby still ahead of him, we can't wait to see what else Ruan Pienaar can achieve in the game.