Springbok commits to Cheetahs

Head coach Hawies Fourie has confirmed that a veteran Springbok player has signed a new one-year contract with the Cheetahs.

It had been reported that legendary scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar would be hanging up his boots at the end of the season, having helped the Cheetahs into the Currie Cup final.

But during a press conference ahead of Saturday’s final against the Pumas, Cheetahs coach Fourie revealed that the veteran playmaker will give the Bloemfontein side another year.

The new contract will take the 39-year-old into the 20th year of his professional rugby career, which began back in 2004 with the Sharks.

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

Pienaar, who has 88 Test caps for the Springboks, scored 22 points to guide the Cheetahs past the Bulls in the Currie Cup semi-finals.

Whether playing at scrumhalf or flyhalf, he has been a calming presence in the Cheetahs’ backline.

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“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.”

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