Great Interview with Ruan Pienaar

Brendan Gallagher wrote:There might have been a more influential and committed ‘overseas’ signing than Ruan Pienaar in the last 18 seasons since rugby turned professional but I very much doubt it. Ulster’s Springbok World Cup winner arrived at Ravenhill in his absolute pomp three seasons ago – a rare occurrence in Britain and Ireland – and has played his heart out while contributing fully to Ulster’s off-the-field development.

This is the man who has so embraced Ulster – the team, the Province and the bloody weather – that just before Christmas he walked away from a Euro-laden three year contract offer from Toulon (2,899 hours of annual sunshine) to sign on for another three years in the comparative twilight of Belfast (1,290 hours on a good year although nobody can remember the last time that was).

Pienaar is hard core, loyal and inspirational and Ulster readily acknowledge they have struck lucky with the man from Bloemfontein. Signing up big names and hired hands is a fact of life in professional sport, but rugby took a long while to fully take that notion on board. Initially there was a strong suspicion that some of those concerned were seeking employment in Britain and Ireland as a last minute pension scheme although club treasurers argued they helped to put bums on seats. A fair few were genuine enough in their intentions but were the betrayed by creaking bodies and long term injuries. Very few were on the way up, most were on the way down.

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geoff998rugby wrote:Its called class - the man has it coming out of every pore

SecretFly wrote:Sounds to me like a Dangerous South African cult growing in Belfast....  Not good news.  We'll have to factor in a de-programming....em... program for them afflicted boys in the next round table talks about the marching season.