Following a report in South African Newspaper, The Sunday Tribune, in which Springbok Coach Peter de Villiers confirmed Ruan Pienaar’s move to Northern Ireland, Ulster are delighted to announce that Ruan will join Ulster Rugby on a two year contract. Negotiations for his release are still ongoing with his Province, The Sharks.
Having made his Super 14 debut with the Sharks in 2005, Ruan then made his first appearance for the Springboks in 2006 against New Zealand and was a member of the victorious 2007 Rugby World Cup squad. To date, Ruan has won 36 Springbok caps and has scored 85 Test points.
Speaking about Ulster Rugby’s decision to recruit the World Cup winning Springbok, Ulster Rugby Operations Director David Humphreys remarked: “Bringing Ruan to Ulster is a massive statement of our ambition to be competing with the top teams in the Magners League and ERC. He is one of the most naturally gifted players in world rugby and having had huge experience at international level with the Springboks, we believe Ruan will help Ulster achieve success over the next couple of seasons.”
Ruan will be joining former Springbok and Sharks players, BJ Botha and Johann Muller, in the Ulster squad next season.
