Ruan Pienaar
Springbok scrum-half and fly-half, World Cup winner, and Cheetahs academy coach.
Ruan Pienaar (born 10 March 1984) is a South African retired rugby union player who played either as a scrum-half or as a fly-half for the Cheetahs, Sharks, Ulster, Montpellier, and the South Africa national team. He is currently backline and attack coach for the Cheetahs academy.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 10 March 1984
- Birthplace
- Bloemfontein, South Africa
- Weight
- 92 kg / 203 lb
- School
- Grey College, Bloemfontein
- Position
- Scrum-half
- Fly-half
- Fullback
- Current club
- Cheetahs; Free State Cheetahs
Lore & Background
Pienaar is the son of former Springbok fullback Gysie Pienaar. He has been part of u19 (2003), u21 (2005) and senior Rugby World Cup (2007) winning squads. He also won the Currie Cup in 2008, 2019 and 2023. He made his Springbok debut in the 2006 Tri-Nations against New Zealand. He played his final rugby game on 17 May 2024, captaining the Cheetahs against the Griquas.
Reader's Guide
Pienaar played for the Cheetahs in the Currie Cup, the Sharks in Super Rugby, then joined Ulster in 2010. He played for Montpellier in 2017/18, returned to the Cheetahs in 2019, and was loaned to the Sharks for the 2021/22 season. He retired from playing in 2024 and became backline and attack coach for the Cheetahs academy.
Did You Know?
- He scored all of Ulster's 19 points in his Magners League debut against Glasgow Warriors.
- He was named Magners League Player of the Year for the 2010/11 season, voted by his peers.
- He played in the 2012 Heineken Cup Final and the 2013 Pro12 Final, both against Leinster.
- He is the co-founder of a Bible study group for rugby players in South Africa.
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