Ruan Pienaar, who has a single season left at Ulster before his contract expires, expressed his desire to return to South Africa to finish his career.
Pienaar has only played for the Sharks in South Africa and has made it clear that he would like to return to Durban once his contract with Ulster is finished.
Pienaar left the Sharks in 2010 and has had great success with Ulster, winning the Player of the Year award in 2011 and again reaching the Team of the Year in 2012. His play has greatly improved since he left South Africa, partly due to the fact that he has only played in one position.
Pienaar’s potential return to the Sharks might please some, but could also upset the apple cart in terms of player development. The Sharks currently have Charl McLeod and Cobus Reinach rotating at scrumhalf while Hanco Venter and Stefan Ungerer are waiting in the wings.
Both Venter and Ungerer are currently involved with the Springbok Under 20 squad taking part in the IRB Junior World Championship. Both these players are immense talents and it would be expected that one, if not both of these players would leave should the Sharks sign Ruan Pienaar on a long term contract.
Should the Sharks be serious about Pienaar’s return, one would hope that the other players in the team would all have a sit down and the future be discussed. Should Pienaar return and expect first team rugby, it could well mean the end of the road for Charl McLeod, who has fallen out of favour not only at the Sharks, but in terms of Springbok selection. Pienaar and Reinach seem like a potent combination to have rotating, but I cannot help but think that bringing Pienaar back, as good as he has been, will be a good thing for the Sharks.
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Pienaar and Venter/Ungerer , finished.
Rich if it happens, could he be back fir sr 2014? When does his season end?
@Uli (Comment 1) : So I take it you like Pienaar but dislike Reinach?
Has Pienaar’s desire to return anything to do with Plum going? That’s my feeling.
Injuries and Bok call-ups play a big part throughout the season so we need at least 3 good scrummies, if not 4!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 3) : I like good players.
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 2) :
May is generally when their season finishes, so he would be back now, but probably won’t be able to play in the play-offs of Super Rugby, should we get there.
It would be much like the return of Frans Steyn last year, so we are likely to only see him for Super Rugby 2015, because of Springbok duties during the Currie Cup season.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 7) : Well that would just be awe…. We cant make the play offs anyways. If he returns now, he might as well take a good break from rugby as he needs one.
@Uli (Comment 8) :
We are not talking about Super Rugby 2013, we are talking next year..
Pienaar’s play also improved at Ulster, because they play skop-en-jaag rugby.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 9) : Ah ok my bad.
Having Pienaar to mentor our young scummies is really a great thing!
Well you need at least 3 good scummies to carry you through a super 15. Pienaar can take lead and mentor the young guys coming through the ranks like Venter and Ungerer.
How old is Pienaar now?
anybody got news on kockett return read on news24 and rugby365 that he also wan’ts to come back to SA
@SteelShark (Comment 14) : I think his 28 or 29
@sharks4eve2013 (Comment 15) : link plz
@sharks4eve2013 (Comment 16) :He’s 29
I like, when does their season up north end?
@robdylan (Comment 18) : Seems he’s more interested in a retirement package. He’ll be 31 by the time we get to see him. 😯
Naah, not worth it.
http://m.news24.com/sport24/Rugby/Rory-Kockott-dreams-of-Test-rugby-20130108 cant find the one on rugby365 now will try and find it
@FireTheLooser (Comment 20) : Have to agree with you rather bring back kockett
@GreatSharksays (Comment 19) : April-ish next year
@sharks4eve2013 (Comment 22) : Kockott being only 26 years old still has a lot of rugby left in him. With Plum out of the picture, Kockott might just be willing to entertain an offer from the Sharks.
Whether him and Venter will be able to get along is another story altogether.
I reckon it would be good for us if he returns. Apart from scrumhalf, he also covers flyhalf – something we will soon be without. And no, Pienaar has not played solely scrumhalf for Ulster. He has also played flyhalf for them and he has often played both positions in the same game. The biggest difference for Pienaar is that he was unconditionally backed at Ulster, without pressure and they played open cards regarding what his role would be. Unlike Dick, Plum and Pdivvie’s treatment of him.
@robdylan (Comment 18) : thanx rob for got he used to play under 19 with my cousin back in the day
@sharks4eve2013 (Comment 21) : when would he be available.
@robdylan (Comment 23) : Thanks.
@King Shark (Comment 25) : I cant imagine him wanting to come back to play Currie Cup flyhalf. Anyway I really hope to see Zelinga get a lot of game time come CC time.
@sharks4eve2013 (Comment 21) : Bud, no offence but that article was written 2013-01-08 19:39. I think there is evidence that he will be staying in France for some time to come…
@King Shark (Comment 25) : Actually I don’t recall Plum stuffing Pienaar around. He stated against PdV’s wishes that he would use him solely as scrumhalf based on the player’s insistence, and he mostly did.
Pdv offered him the chance to try out at 10, which I still think suits him better. Unfortunately his goal kicking went to pot in the Lions test and the rest is history. At the time there was no chance he was going to unseat FdP at 9 for the Boks.
Personally I thought there are many other SA players who were treated far worse and shunted all over the place without complaints.
@Uli (Comment 30) : ja I saw that somebody up loaded same article yesterday and that’s were i saw it but who know’s maybe he will surprise us and be available soon all we can do is hope
@sharks4eve2013 (Comment 26) : who’s your cousin?
@robdylan (Comment 33) : Le Roy coetzee way do you ask
@sharks4eve2013 (Comment 35) : just wondered…. afraid to say I’ve never heard of him 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 35) : Ja he picked up a knee injury when he was playing for old grey’s i think and sense there never fully recovered after that still players for them now and again was in the same team with , pienaars , tegman , brussow and i think stein was there to was captain fs under 18 and 21 if memory serves me correct played loose head and tight head
@Uli (Comment 30) : ja found something in last mouths sa mag doesn’t sound like his coming back
@sharks4eve2013 (Comment 36) : wow, cool.
@sharks4eve2013 (Comment 37) : I have a feeling he has a better chance of paying for France tbh.
@Uli (Comment 39) : I think you right sounds like it from what I read in SA mag o well at least we go reinach 😈
@sharks4eve2013 (Comment 40) : Yes he is top scrummy 😀 Why even discuss scram half options? 😀
@Uli (Comment 41) : and don’t forget pienaar when his backthe two best scrum half in the world 😆
@ FireTheLooser 29 plus 1 equals 30 so he won’t be 31 anyway he still has a good 4 or 5 years in him and if is has Gysie’s genes maybe more. Great opportunity as a tutor for Venter & Ungerer. With Reinach also possibly vying for a Sprinbok place when fit and the youngsters still involved in age group rugby there will be plenty of space and time for the 4 of them especially if Pienaar plays cover for both half back positions. McLeod may be the unlucky looser here. All four of them are far better than Kockott. All rumours though.
@markp (Comment 43) : Read comment by Rich:
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 7) :
@sharks4eve2013 (Comment 21) : now Kockett coming back would be totes awesome