Ruan Pienaar
South Africa
player portrait
Full name Ruan Pienaar
Born March 10, 1984, Bloemfontein
Current age 40 years 9 days
Major teams Barbarians, Cell C Sharks (CC), Cheetahs, Free State, Montpellier, Munster, Sharks, Ulster, South Africa
Position Scrum-half
Height 6 ft 2 in
Weight 202 lb
Relations Father - ZMJ Pienaar

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 2006-2015 88 45 43 135 8 22 17 0 59 27 2 68.18
IRB Rugby World Cup 2007-2015 10 3 7 22 2 6 0 0 9 1 0 90
The Rugby Championship 2006-2015 37 25 12 27 3 3 2 0 15 21 1 41.89

Career statistics
Test debut South Africa v New Zealand at Pretoria, Aug 26, 2006 match details
Last Test Argentina v South Africa at London, Oct 30, 2015 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Most points | Most tries | Tournament list
Profile

South Africa utility back Ruan Pienaar is one of the most naturally gifted young players in the world game, but has suffered in the early years of his career due to his versatility.

Pienaar has international caps at scrum-half, fullback and fly-half but was unable to force his way into the reckoning for a regular place in any of these positions until 2008. With the Springboks' World Cup winning fly-half Butch James playing in Europe, Pienaar was handed the No.10 jersey for their autumn tour of the northern hemisphere, turning in assured performances and scoring a charge-down try against Danny Cipriani and England.

Pienaar's career began with Free State, but he was given precious few opportunities before he made the switch to Durban and the Sharks after being spotted at Craven Week, a tournament for schoolboy players, by Sharks coach Kevin Putt.

The son of former Springbok fullback Gysie Pienaar, he found new levels of success with the Sharks in both the Currie Cup and Super 14 and made his South Africa debut in 2006 against New Zealand during the Tri Nations.

He was a part of the South Africa side that won the World Cup in 2007 and won praise before the tournament from Head Coach Jake White, who compared him to Australia fly-half Stephen Larkham. Pienaar made four appearances during the World Cup, scoring two tries against Tonga in his only start. He was an unused replacement for the final.

In October 2008, Pienaar scored the opening try as the Sharks defeated the Blue Bulls to secure their fifth Currie Cup title.

The following year he played in all three Tests against the British & Irish Lions and started the first two as the Springboks won the series. In the first Test his kicking proved decisive as he landed three penalties and two conversions in a 26-21 win but in the second Test he struggled and was replaced by Morne Steyn who kicked the winning penalty.

Steyn made the 10 jersey his own during the ensuing Tri-Nations, in which Pienaar was used at fly-half and fullback. He announced in May 2010 that he would be joining Magners League side Ulster for the 2010-11 season, although he was recalled to the Springbok line-up at scrum-half for their thrid Tri-Nations game, against Australia in Brisbane.

In July 2010 Pienaar confirms his Ulster career will begin at the start of September after agreeing a release from his Natal Sharks contract. And he quickly established himself as a talismanic figure for the Irish province.

Latest Articles
Ruan Pienaar ruled out of Springboks tour of Europe (Nov 4, 2014) Louw fit to return in six weeks (Sep 23, 2014) Schalk Burger called up by Springboks (Sep 17, 2014) Boks recall Pietersen to face Wallabies (Sep 15, 2014) Nonu and Pienaar are Wellington casualties (Sep 13, 2014) Ruan Pienaar news and articles (75) »
Latest Photos
Aug 4, 2015
South Africa's Ruan Pienaar goes to work in the Springboks' 'mobile gym'
South Africa's Ruan Pienaar goes to work in the Springboks' 'mobile gym'
©  Gallo Images
Jan 24, 2015
Ulster's Ruan Pienaar box-kicks under pressure
Ulster's Ruan Pienaar box-kicks under pressure
©  Getty Images
Jan 24, 2015
Ulster's Ruan Pienaar under the high ball
Ulster's Ruan Pienaar under the high ball
©  Getty Images
Dec 6, 2014
Ruan Pienaar evades Harry Robinson's tackle to go over
Ruan Pienaar evades Harry Robinson's tackle to go over
©  Getty Images
Ruan Pienaar rugby photos (55) »

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