Ruan Pienaar

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Ruan Pienaar
Personal information
Full name	Ruan Pienaar
Date of birth	10 March 1984 (1984-03-10) (age 24)
Place of birth	Bloemfontein
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in)
Weight	90 kg (14 st 2 lb)
School	Grey College, Bloemfontein
Notable relative(s)	Gysie Pienaar (father)
Occupation(s)	Professional rugby union footballer
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	scrum-half fly-half fullback
Provincial/State sides		Caps	(points)
2005-present	Natal Sharks	14	(106)
Super Rugby
2005-present	Sharks	20	(57)
National team(s)
2006-present	South Africa	15	(18)

Ruan Pienaar (born 10 March 1984 in Bloemfontein) is a South African rugby union footballer who plays either as a scrum-half or as a fly-half for Natal Sharks in the Currie Cup, the Sharks in the Super 14 and the Springboks. He made his debut for the Springboks in the 2006 Tri-Nations against New Zealand and was a member of the successful 2007 World Cup squad.

Pienaar played his high school rugby in Bloemfontein, where he attended the prestigious Grey College. He was selected for the Free State Craven Week side in 2002. He is the son of former Springbok fullback Gysie Pienaar.

Pienaar possesses a wide range of skills. Besides being able to pass well, he can kick with both feet, and his vision and running style moved former Springbok coach Jake White to compare him with Australian fly-half Stephen Larkham, which is high praise indeed.^[1]

[edit] References

v • d • e South Africa squad - 2007 Rugby World Cup Forwards B. Botha • BJ Botha (injured) • G. Botha • Burger • B. du Plessis • J. du Plessis (sub) • du Randt • Matfield • Muller • Rossouw • Skinstad • Smit (c) • Smith • Steenkamp • van den Berg • van der Linde • van Heerden Backs de Villiers (injured) • du Preez • Fourie • Habana • James • Januarie • Julies (sub) • Montgomery • Ndungane • Olivier • Pietersen • Pienaar • Pretorius • Steyn • Willemse Coach White

v • d • e Sharks – current squad Forwards Botha • Carstens • Cilliers • J. du Plessis • Harris • Lensing • Mtawarira • Badenhorst • Burden • B. du Plessis • Jenneker • Ackermann • Hargreaves • Muller • Snyman • Sykes • van den Berg • Blignaut • Botes • Daniel • Venter • Deysel • Kankowski Backs Kockott • Mathie • McLeod • Pienaar • Michalak • Steyn • Barritt • Jacobs • Murray • Strauss • Taione • Mentz • Ndungane • Wagenstroom • Matyeshana • Pietersen • Terblanche Coach Muir