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Ruan Pienaar’s departure date has been confirmed.
Springbok scrum-half Ruan Pienaar will officially join Ulster at the start of September after a release date from his contract with Natal Sharks was agreed.
BBC Sport reports that World Cup winner Pienaar is currently part of the South Africa squad taking part in the Tri-Nations tournament.
While his Ulster contract will begin on 1 September, he will be available for South Africa if named in the 22 for the test against Australia on 4 September.
Pienaar is therefore likely to miss the Magners League opener against Ospreys.
The 26-year-old, who has agreed a two-year contract with the Irish province, is one of the most highly regarded half-backs in world rugby and can play at either scrum-half or fly-half.
Pienaar made his debut for South Africa in the 2006 Tri-Nations and was a member of the successful 2007 World Cup squad.
He will join fellow Springboks Johann Muller and BJ Botha at Ravenhill next season.
Pienaar’s arrival from the Sharks will fill the void left at number nine by the departure of Isaac Boss to Irish provincial rivals Leinster.
Ulster Rugby Operations Director David Humphreys said he was “delighted to have concluded negotiations around Ruan’s move to Ulster”.
“I would like to thank the Natal Sharks for their help in the matter and for agreeing to Ruan’s early release from his Sharks contract.
“He is without doubt one of the biggest signings made in Ulster Rugby’s history and I’m confident that he will be a key asset to us,” he added.
Pienaar said he was “very excited about the change”.
“I have been thinking about going to the Northern Hemisphere for a couple of seasons now and when the opportunity to join Ulster came up I was very interested.”
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cheers Ru. Good luck.
And with that, I’m happy for him never to pull on the Sharks jersey again, starting this weekend.
Another player who had a bright future is Bok rugby, willingly giving it up…WHY?
@Just a Fan (Comment 3) : Money, money, money…
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Nasty….
@lostfish (Comment 4) : Professional era. Who amongst the SW bloggers never chased filthy lucre or showed allegiance to a company when there was more to be made elsewhere?
And who amongst us has a limited professional lifespan of 10-12 years?
@Baldrick (Comment 6) : Oh I am not knocking it at all, but they all seem to say the same thing – I want a different experience. It would be refreshing to hear the truth and hear- same job better pay…
@robdylan (Comment 2) :
The next bok match is on 21 Aug. that means we have 3 rounds including this weekend where we can use Ruan.
He can be a very valuable asset to us in that time. He doesn’t have to start any of the games but he could be a valuable bench player in that time.
Good luck Ruan.
Creates some finality for Shark and Bok rugby though; just like the Frans situation – stop trying to mould the wunderkind into the team at any cost, and play with the hand you have been dealt.
I wonder if Div will select him for the Tri Nations now. I think its time Hougaard and Pretorius got a chance.
I think Sarel will be great at Bok level. He is quite nippy and makes things happen!
Good luck Ru..
I hope they put him in one position and leave him there!!
cheers Ru – thanx for some good memories and good luck up there
@robdylan (Comment 2) : jeez
@lostfish (Comment 7) : i don’t think that just money is always the case – It’s probably combination of different experience, money and in Pienaar’s case having enough of not being settled in one position.
@rekinek (Go Klose!) (Comment 14) : Probably also a chance to get away from the limelight. I somehow don’t think he likes being the object of talk.
@rekinek (Go Klose!) (Comment 13) : nah, it’s nothing personal. Just that I don’t see what we have to gain from playing a guy who we know is leaving. Might as well develop our own talent further.
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Well said. And have to agree with you.
I really liked him.. WAS a big fan… Not so much anymore.
Cheers Ruan. Good Luck!!!
At last, one less moaner…
Good luck Ruan…
If we are not in the running anymore, then let him go and develop a youngster. If we are in the running (and we should be) then pick the best team to win the CC.
Winning the cup should be the priority.
@MysticShark (Comment 20) : Ruan won’t be around for the finals so I tend to agree with Rob that Charl should start and maybe use Ruan as cover on the bench for 9 and 10.
well good luck ruan,
unfortunatly another Brent Russel gone!
@Pokkel (Comment 21) : What I meant was that he should not be dropped out of spitefulness, but rather based on sound reasoning. With Mcloud looking good and Meyer not to shabby, I agree that the bench is probably the right position for Ruan.
@MysticShark (Comment 23) : We agree then…he’s been great for the Sharks and should leave feeling appreciated.
Rob those are some harsh words, but you have to remember that Ruan was messed around between playing at 9 and 10. He expressed his desire to rather play at 9 but certain people insisted that he has what it takes to be a world class flyhalf. And sure you can make the argument that he must be a team player and play where he is needed but that does not always work now does it. So rather cut the guy some slack…
Thanks for everything Ruan and hope you can play to your full potential out North. Good Luck
@Pokkel (Comment 24) : yes. Good old Ruan! Three cheers
@robdylan (Comment 26) : You’re a miserable sarcastic old fart
Good Luck Ruan. Hope you have an awesome time. And if u decide to come back, keep the Black & White in mind
@Farlington (Comment 25) :
He was needed at 10. What ever happened to the team comes first??
@wpw (Comment 29) : he played at 10 – don’t you remember
@MysticShark (Comment 20) : I agree on best team – and Ruan is our best 9. CC is a long competition nothing wrong with Cahrl spending some time on the bench every now and then – resting resources.
@wpw (Comment 29) : Just because he was needed at 10 does not make him a 10.
And when he could not live up to expectation especially with the boot he was critized. His form dropped and alot of poeple forgot all the good he did when he played at 9.
Ruan was and is a good player.
Unfortunately he wasn’t the best 9 in the country, playing behind the world’s best, while there was a time when Rory was also better.
He was also a good 10, but again, not the best, especially under pressure.
So good luck to him: he should make the money and see the world.
But let’s not pretend that he did everything he could have to take his chances and is just an innocent victim.
Morne Steyn is the same age and played 10,12 and 15. And he played behind Liefling, Meisiekind and some solid fullbacks. Yet here he stands.
So Ruan leaves with my best wishes, but I come to bury Ruan, not to praise him and decry the entire rugby administratin for his ills.
@Big Fish (Comment 33) : the idea is not to lash the adminstrators but to send teh guty off with some gratitude – like Muller or Carstens and any other player leaving sharks. and he is one of the best leaving so.
@Pokkel (Comment 27) : I’m not that old
@Big Fish (Comment 33) : you’re just a cut above the herd, aren’t you?
Class.
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Rob its unfortunate you think like that! why so?
Nice to know the little touches don’t go unappreciated.
We should be gentle on the NRU here: they did agree painlessly to an early release: yet again, and unlike with all OUR acquistions.
For Dolphie is an honourable man.
@Big Fish (Comment 38) : or maybe he sees the same wholes in his contracts as his lawyers point in others.
but true – very practical approach.
@Big Fish (Comment 38) : Sharks are always VERY fair when a player wants to leave, even if it is a senior. Agree we must give them that.
@Big Fish (Comment 33) : I hope you aren’t raising Morne Steyn onto Mt Olympus?
@ruggabugga (Comment 37) : I see every game in the Currie Cup as an opportunity to learn something and to develop our squad further. Giving gametime to a player who is leaving to me just seems like a waste.
@Baldrick (Comment 41) : let’s hope the Bulls turn out to be wrong about this and that JLP is a better flyhalf after all
Balders, I’m not a big Morne Steyn fan. As shown recently, FDP and a dominant pack is necessary to accomodate his decision-making and open-play creativity deficiencies. He is not by any means a complete footballer – but a great kicker. I hope we have a better flyhalf for next year.
But that is really my point: he doesn’t have near the talent that Ruan does: but he has accomplished what he has.
Restpec
@Big Fish (Comment 44) : there is something to be said for rewording a hard work despite less (I’m wary to use word limited) talent resources.
@robdylan (Comment 40) : Question must be raised why players want to leave the sharks?
@rekinek (Go Klose!) (Comment 45) : agree
@Original Pierre (Comment 46) : yes, I suppose they must. And you won’t universally find the same reason. But it is true that players seem far less likely to leave the Bulls to go overseas… must be something to that.
@robdylan (Comment 48) : Vic did, Bakkies tried, Wickus did, FDP is. There are plenty if you give it some thought.
Whacko Jaco, Kees Lensing, Liefling and probably a few more..
@robdylan (Comment 48) : From everything I`ve read about Frans Steyn I can say that he sounds very happy in France after his stint with the sharks and bokke.
He raves about the relaxed atmosphere and freedom to ” give it a go”.
You think we put too much pressure on our players in the Sharktank or could he just not handle it?
@Original Pierre (Comment 50) : I don’t think the Sharks is the most highly-presurrised environment you’re likely to find in professional rugby!
@robdylan (Comment 51) : a liitle pressure would do them good though.
@rekinek (Go Klose!) (Comment 52) : Agree
Oh well another bites Ulster dust
Well good luck Ruan we will miss u well most of us and thanks for the Black and White games
But sth tells me that he’ll never play again after 2 years he going on pension (well maybe)
and my what a way to retire with a lot of money money in a rugby guys world 
