Ruan Pienaar commits to Cheetahs for 2023/24 season

Cheetahs head coach Hawies Fourie has confirmed that veteran Springbok star Ruan Pienaar has committed to the club for the 2023/24 season.

It will also mean that the 39-year-old will enter into 20th year of his professional rugby career that started with Sharks in 2004. Having played for the Springboks in 88 Tests, Pienaar also represented Ulster and Montpellier before joining Cheetahs in 2020.

It was earlier reported that Pienaar was set to retire at the end of the season after guiding Cheetahs to a Currie Cup final but Fourie revealed that he has extended his stay with the club for another year.

“Ruan has extended with us for another year so he will be with us for another season,” said Fourie.

He will play the same role that he has played for us this year,” Fourie added. “He is still enjoying his rugby and he is a very competitive person so he will want to finish his career on a high.

“Ruan won’t just play for money and will give his weight to the Cheetahs and give his input. He is our most experienced player and is always part of the conversation of what to do and how to do things.

“He will support [captain] Victor [Sekekete], he will be the leader of the backs and on the field he can play nine or No 10 and will be the general on the pitch as well. So, nothing different from the past season.”