Ulster announce Pienaar deal

Ulster Rugby have announced the signing of South Africa star Ruan Pienaar on a two-year deal.

Pienaar can play right across the back line but operates mostly at scrum half and out half for Sharks and the Springboks.

He made his Super 14 debut in 2005 before graduating to the South Africa side a year later.

The 26-year-old has won 36 international caps over the past four years and was a member of the Springboks side which lifted the World Cup crown in 2007.

Pienaar will become the third South African in the Ulster squad, joining countrymen BJ Botha and Johann Muller.

He is also the province’s second big-name acquisition, following former Cardiff Blues and All Blacks number 8 Xavier Rush in making the switch to Ulster for the 2010/11 season.

Speaking about Pienaar’s arrival, Ulster Rugby Operations Director David Humphreys said: “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.”