Ruan Pienaars recent return to form seems to have once again raised his stocks in the northern hemisphere and if rumours are to be believed the highly talented scrumhalf\flyhalf is off to Ireland.
The Irish Times today reported that the 26 year old Pienaar is on the verge of signing with Irish giants Ulster and his departure from the Shark Tank is a mere formality, the Irish club want Pienaar to replace Isaac Boss who has signed for Leinster.Scottish scrumhalf Mike Blair was originally linked to Ulster but that deal fell through.
None of this is confirmed but Sharksworld will keep you update with any information as it comes forward.

Not good news at all if it’s true.
If it is true, i’m really suprised with the world cup around the corner.
if true 🙁
If this is true, than I say, good riddance. Seriously, who cares anymore. I’m so tired of trying to keep these guys in a team they don’t want to be in.
We have good enough scrummies, if it is true, then its to bad we waisted time playing him to gain form, when we could have picked someone who won’t just leave.
They go for the money, but as I would understand it from other players who has gone before, comes back with just about nothing, because the living costs goes up as the salary goes up. You earn euro’s, and you spend euro’s. He gave up on the Springbok thing when he decided he doesn’t want to try 10 anymore. du preez is a definate, morne is not.
@Letgo (Comment 3) : easy now, dont let your emotions cloud your judgement, I for one am hoping this is not true and it actually does not make sense as Ruan has looked a much happier and confident player this year, not someone who is looking to leave in a huff
I don’t want him to leave, I like Ruan, but I’d be pretty mad if he is leaving. After all this debate and time spend on him, it would really suck if he left. 👿
@Letgo (Comment 3) : agree with you. would be a loss for us, but rather pick a guy that wants to be there. And rory, there was a rumour a few months ago, if i remember correctly, just before we went on tour, that he was also on his way. hope not!! Give Guy or Ross, whoever plays scrummie (both look alike to me)the chance to grow in the position with Rory and Charl.
@war1 (Comment 5) : its quite inevitable that most of the players will leave for their pension in europe, but i think what letgo is trying to say, is that we cant do anything about it, so why make a fuss?
@war1 (Comment 5) : i also see your point, why leave when the player that youve been playing in the shadow of your whole springbok career is going to japan?
@VanWilder (Comment 9) : exactly, and ruan just looks a happier player now than last year for example
I think that Rory is a much better player than Ruan and more importantly he is more consistent.
One bad kicking game and he got dropped from the side.
Would he really leave before the world cup??
@wpw (Comment 11) : you only say so because you would prefer him to play against stormers 😈
rory had good S14 2008 and to me never really duplicated it, the only thing that would justify keeping him in the starting line-up was his kicking. He showed some nice touches coming off the bench though.
@VanWilder (Comment 8) : I understand the frustration, but the comment did not come across that well, we still love you Ru 😉
@war1 (Comment 14) : and rory too
@rekinek (Comment 15) : yeah, rory too
Yeah well I suspected that he would make a move. Perhaps this is why he is playing so well recently… I mean the negotiations must have been going on for some time now.
O well if he does leave, then good luck to him… thanks for the memories and hope you enjoy yourself.
oh well……next please
Afternoon everyone
@Chaz (Comment 19) : good afternoon
@Chaz (Comment 19) : helooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
At the beginning of every year there’s tons of fresh blood entering the world of rugby ripe for the picking.
Watch some high school rugby and you’ll easily identify the future talent. Just fix the academy or send them to Mexted’s academy.
Btw, will Ruan really pass on a chance to play in the 2011 wc?
well that is bad just bad 🙁
now how much must us as shark supporters take gee can’t they just leave us alone if its not the local sides buying into the other local sides then it the abroad clubs [email protected] just leave our good players alone please 👿 😥
@Letgo (Comment 4) : that is so true and in the end they say never ever again 🙁
@rekinek (Comment 21) :
😉
@war1 (Comment 20) : 😉
@war1 (Comment 14) : me to 😆 but gee all our good players are going one by one is there not something else that we are missing ❓ is the reason why our players are going 😕 just don’t know 😉
i can’t really see him going before the WC 2011 🙁 just can’t 😥
@Chaz (Comment 27) : i disagree with it. It’s only Frans that left last year, Muller now and perhaps Ruan. It’s not that bad comparing to other unions (eg Lions
)
@Chaz (Comment 27) : yes what we are missing are the millions of euros the european clubs get to spend.
In this day and age most of the players are going to go for the money. I don’t care who you are, you offer to pay someone 3 times what he is earning to do the exact same job, he is going to take the better paying job.
@rekinek (Comment 29) : true but still 😉
@lostfish (Comment 30) : 🙁 so true i surpose me would do the same if lots of money was thrown in my hands 😉
Hello Chaz!! 😉
@wpw (Comment 33) : how are you my friend
😉
gee me like that pic 😆
so tell me something are you going to watch your game or do you have something else to do 😳
Hey jokes me friend
He must have been offered some serious cash if the rumours are true !
……realistically he must have had the word that he is not going to make the Bok starting line up ahead of the Bulls pairing.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 35) : mmmm 🙁
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 35) : They have to throw more money at the players, the weather is disgusting.
@lostfish (Comment 37) : You don’t go to Belfast to work on your tan !
Will be interesting to see how he kicks when everyone is silent everytime he kicks for posts. Now that is pressure.:mrgreen:
@Treehugger (Comment 39) : yes it must be but will be 🙁 to see him go
and one more thing me want to know are you new because never seen the name before 😳
Well see you tomorrow cheers
GO SHARKS GO 
and last
I have suspected that Ruan will leave after Fransie left last year. Although I don,t think Ulster is a big deal but Muller is going there and they are friends so it makes sense.
Nothing keeps Ruan at Sharks now I am afraid.
As for Springboks I feel Ruan gave up after last Nov. He has been dissapointed by the way he was treated and rightly so and what’s more he doesn’t trust DIV any more. This is quite sad news for SA .I am a big fan of RP but DIV and co. weren’t able to use his talent and abilities.
eThekwini will be missing Ruan if he leaves…
@tedanica (Comment 42) : @FireTheLooser (Comment 43) : me don’t blame him if he does go will miss him alot if its not the money to deal with then the players don’t get enough play time etc and then to deal with some that don’t trust the players me don’t blame them at all 😳 😉
@Chaz (Comment 44) : It’s not like they’re being paid peanuts playing locally.
Frans Steyn is earning R7,3 mil for his 3yr contract in France, during his three years he’ll probably play no more than 1,5 yrs of rugby.
I think these sportsmen are money hungry and chasing after the American dream.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 45) : There is no American Dream, its all a ruse. 😐
@Letgo (Comment 46) : Exactly, pie in the sky….the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow….but they’ll always chase it.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 47) : 😕 😐 😯
@FireTheLooser (Comment 45) : Just out of interest, does anyone actually know how much our players are paid?
@justinwhufc (Comment 49) : I’m not too sure, I know Mapoe was offered R1,4 mil for a contract with the Bulls, but I’m not sure if that’s per year or per 2 years.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 47) @Letgo (Comment 48) : : and so they should. Rugby players have a very short career in years and they could get injured tomorow and then what do they have? They would have been playing, when normally theY would have been studying, so they must make as much money and the thing we keep forgetting is this is now a proffesional sport. There is no loyalty. Those days are long gone. I say good luck to him!! I just hope he makes the big moola and is happy over there!!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 50) : And after tax that would come down substantially. Would be interesting to know how much the top sharks guys are earning, and the kind of packages we have to put together to try fend off oversea’s offers for our players.
Ruan would be foolish to go just a year before the world cup. Then maybe with a wc medal he is not too worried.
Would be a huge loss to the Sharks.
all this will be after the rwc. so why panic? ruan isn’t going to give up a chance at 2 rwc golds for cash.
Ruan would be a huge loss but in Kockott, Macleod and Cronje we have some quality backup.
Good luck to him if it works out.
@Puma (Comment 53) : At last a face to the name 😀