Ruan Pienaar and Paul Marshall sign new contracts at Ulster

Am I missing something here??

I thought the new rules brought in by the IRFU would mean we couldnt re-sign Pienaar, but according to the BBC he has just signed another contract keeping him at Ulster until 2014.

Ulster scrum-halves Ruan Pienaar and Paul Marshall have signed new contracts with the Ravenhill club.

World Cup winner Pienaar, who has 51 caps for South Africa, is in his second season with the province while Marshall has been a squad member for six years.

The news will be a boost to Brian McLaughlin's men as they prepare to take on Leicester in Friday's crucial Heineken Cup clash in Belfast.

The fresh contracts will keep the duo with Ulster until June 2014.

"We have been negotiating to retain Ruan since the summer," said Ulster's rugby director David Humphreys.

"He has been instrumental in the team's success since joining us in 2010.

"Paul took his opportunity at the start of the season when Ruan was at the World Cup and has really impressed with his performances.

"Last week he was involved in three of the four tries we scored against Edinburgh."

Ulster raised eyebrows with the big-name signing of Pienaar in 2010 and the move paid off as the South African proved to be a matchwinner on a number of occasions.

Pienaar's immediate impact was recognised when he was chosen as the Magners League Players' Player of the Year.

Ireland A international Marshall came through the ranks at Ulster, making his senior debut in 2006.

The 26-year-old impressed during a prolonged spell in the team this season when Pienaar was unavailable because of international duties and injury.

Former Natal Sharks star Pienaar said: "I have made some good friends here and have really enjoyed the rugby side.

"The people of Belfast have welcomed myself and my family with open arms, so it was an easy decision in the end."

from:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/16511721.stm

Great boost ahead of Friday!

The new rules don't come in till 2013-14.

Players will be able to be resigned up to the summer of 2013 - hopefully that is what will occur with Muller

Ahh I see Geoff - all the talk was that the new rules would mean that Pienaar could'nt stay after his current contract was up - this is great news.

HEC Champions 2012/2013. Ulster.

You saw it here first folks

The doubt was we may have been allowed only a 1 year extension.

My guess is Ulster and Pienaer wanted 2.
Dublin have agreed - given the scrum half set ups at both Leinster and Munster that seems understandable.

It deserved a thread of it's own. I'm ecstatic to be honest. To be honest I hope we are able to get Muller for an extension as well even be it in some coaching capacity.

Great news.

Brilliant news. Couldn't be happier. Pienaar is fundimental to Ulster and Marshall is in the form of his life.

Pienaar and Muller are so important to Ulster they are th etpye of NIE that once you can't you can't let go. Hope new rules are ammended.

Afoa could become as equally important NIE.

Some Hit!

Artful,

You should add "...and Paul Marshall" to your title.

This has made my day and I am pretty much equally pleased by both announcements. Now, before someone jumps down my throat, I'm not saying that Smarsh is as good as Pienaar, but to have Ruan bring Marshall's game on soooo much in his time here only to keep the master and lose the pupil would be very short-sighted.

With the new IRFU rules we need Marshall, and all that he has learned form Pienaar, in the long term.

So pleased!!

MrsP Marshall has a long way to go yet.

However good day for Ulster

He has indeed Stag but he will be able to continue to develop and improve under Pienaar at and for Ulster.

He has Ulster through him like a stick of rock.

And he is just such a lovely guy.



Thanks for the edit Artful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSbBvKaM6sk

I really wish we still played that when we scored.

MrsP wrote:I really wish we still played that when we scored.

I miss Journey

What do they actually play at the end of games now? Can't think what it is.

I think it is Poppiholla the danced up version of Sigur Ros (much better) Hoppipolla. Not sure what they go into after that.

Well,

I still sing the,

"Wooo Hooo!"

Much to the embarrassment of whichever little P is sitting with me.

Was a great day yesterday and I heard that Roger Wilson is on the verge on returning

I expect the dust to settle on the HC matches and Roger Wilson to be announcement in the following couple of weeks.

Sounds like a done deal - I may find out more later today or tomorrow

The Kaino deal still in the pipeline geoff?

That will be some backrow if we have Wilson Ferris and Kaino then Henry in reserve

Or Wilson in reserve.

Standulstermen wrote:Or Wilson in reserve.

Was thinking that too Stand short changing Henry whos stepped up his game this season was always flinching when he went into contact as he seemed to have a habit of knocking on but hes fixed that and seems to have got better defensivly too

Kaino talks - at a very early stage

As I mentioned elsewhere the way I see it is

HC - Ferris, Kaino, Henry
Pro12 - Kaino, Wilson, Henry

Standulstermen wrote:Or Wilson in reserve.

+1 Henry is a better player than Wilson.