'It brings life into perspective and what really is important' - Ruan Pienaar's silver lining after tragic start to 2019
As reunions come, Ruan Pienaar’s first match back in Belfast since his 2017 exit couldn’t be more perfectly timed. The South African spent seven heart-warming seasons in the bosom of Kingspan Stadium and he will surely be glad to meet old acquaintances again on February 22 at the end of what is set to be an emotionally difficult week for him.
The Saturday before his Ravenhill return will mark the first anniversary of the tragic death of his sister Rene at the age of just 38. She was killed in a four-vehicle accident on a road on South Africa’s Western Cape and the effect on the former Springbok had been profound.
With his family – wife Monique and three children – living in Northern Ireland while he played last season for Top 14 side Montpellier in France, he was considering jacking in playing and joining them in Belfast. Then came word of the devastating incident in South Africa that changed his life in a way he never imagined.
Within months he was back living in his native Bloemfontein, revisiting old haunts and lining out with Cheetahs, the PRO14 club he threw his lot in with on a two-year deal. It’s a silver lining to a tragic situation. “Definitely, it was very unexpected,” he said to RugbyPass, reflecting on the upheaval of his sister’s sad, sudden passing.
“It brings life into perspective and what really is important. It is important to have that in a rugby environment as well. Although it is our job and we want to do it as well as we possibly can, there are bigger things in life and behind the rugby player there is a person and they go through all the different challenges outside of rugby as well.
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The RugbyPass Nadolo documentary explores the life and career of Fijian rugby legend Nemani Nadolo and features Ruan Pienaar
“Things like that [grief] bring life into perspective and it just brings you down to earth again. It has been a tough year from that point of view, but you are never too old to learn and to grow as a person,” he continued, adding how novel it is seeing his parents so frequently again after moving away from home way back in 2004 to join the Sharks in Durban and chase his dream of being a professional rugby player.
“The tragedy with my sister passing away at the beginning of the year prompted the idea of going back and just supporting my mum and dad a little bit more, and the Cheetahs gave me the opportunity to go back there.
“It has been great. I have been out of the house for 15 years, so it is nice for them to have me back in town and spending some more time with them. I think they appreciate having us back there and them spending more time with my kids has been very good.
A large number of my most iconic moments have come while watching the great Ruan Pienaar, so here is a photo taken at the end of his last game with our Afrikaans signs. #SUFTUM #showURsupport pic.twitter.com/iUPGfGAQbu
— Erin (@erincmac) November 9, 2017
“I’m back in the town that I grew up in. Most of the family is still there. It’s not the biggest place in the world. Not too much has changed, so it has been fairly easy. For us with the kids that was the biggest concern, for them to settle in and find the move not too hard.
“Thankfully they have slotted in at school easy enough. They have enjoyed being back in South Africa, so I think as long as the family are happy and the kids are happy that makes your job a little bit easier,” he said, sizing up the differences between life in Bloemfontein and what the Pienaars had become very used to 6,000 miles away in Belfast.
“You can have a barbecue more often now, the weather is pretty good back home. And I can just spend time with friends and family around the pool and around the house, it has been nice to have family around.
@CheetahsRugby as Ruan Pienaar signs 2 year deal. pic.twitter.com/DuXqAFEwCO
— Steve Haag Sports (@STEVEHAAGSPORT) July 10, 2019
“My mum and dad enjoy that and my wife’s mum enjoys having the grandkids around and spending more time with them, so it has been very enjoyable. We still have a soft place for Belfast, a lot of good memories and we do miss it every now and then, but for now we are in South Africa and enjoying it.
“I have still got a property in Belfast, a lot of friends there and we called that home for a long time. Yeah, I think eventually we might go back when the kids are older and spend some time there. I have a lot of great memories over there, I still love the place. We’ll see one day.
“The people were great to me and the family. I really enjoyed the rugby in the club. Ulster is a fantastic team to play for. All the players andthe management around the club are really good people so that made it a lot easier to slot in there. When I first signed I didn’t think I would spend seven seasons there, but I did and loved every minute of it.
🟠⚪️⚫️ @CheetahsRugby have done it!
Full-time #OSPvCHE #GuinnessPRO14 pic.twitter.com/TRGA9pIsmN
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 30, 2019
“It’s a beautiful country. Portstewart, Portrush, all those places you can visit which are only a short drive away. There was lots to do and it’s a great place to bring up a family. I just really enjoyed the experience… It will be good (next February). I’m looking forward to getting back to Belfast playing at the Kingspan again. It will be good fun.”
That fixture is eleven weeks away yet, but Cheetahs have already been busy this European winter polishing their credentials as a side to be reckoned with in this season’s PRO14. They have a savage home record in their high altitude Free State Stadium and just last Saturday they fixed one shackling issue – winning away for the first time since an early January success at South African rivals Southern Kings was followed by seven straight European tour defeats.
That win at crisis club Ospreys surely bodes well heading in 2020 for the scrum-half who turns 36 next March. “I have enjoyed it and I just want to keep enjoying it,” he explained. “You still want to perform well but it is about enjoyment. Once you lose that it’s probably time to hang up the boots, but it has been great to slot into the Cheetahs environment. It is a young squad and it is a lot of fun to be around with. It keeps you young at heart as well. It has been very good.
SA rugby team's doing a reverse Brexit?
– writes @heagneyl 👨💼 https://t.co/IOIvVtFFL8
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 13, 2019
“We started off well and for us, it is about getting more consistency on the road and getting those results. We just need to continue building,” said the Super Rugby veteran, who added that South African teams playing in a league with four European countries is logical.
“I guess it makes sense from a time zone point of view. Sometimes you travel quite long distances but the time zone makes it a lot easier than travelling for Super Rugby.
“All the guys that I have spoken with have enjoyed the challenge of playing against the northern hemisphere teams. We still need to learn a lot of things playing abroad but it has been enjoyable,” insisted Pienaar, whose previous trip to Wales prior to last weekend coincided with South Africa’s greatest rugby moment in twelve years, the World Cup final win over England.
Super Proud! Congratulations Springboks!!
Free State Rugby is the #BreedingGroundOfOpportunity
Rassie Erasmus, Jacques Nienaber, Duane Vermeulen, Lood de Jager, Willie le Roux, Makazole Mpimpi, Trevor Nyakane – all ex-Cheetahs!
@PRO14Official@ToyotaSA https://t.co/Qn6RiQkJXy— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) November 2, 2019
“We were over playing the Scarlets. It’s massive for South Africa. There is a lot of negativity around the country and a lot of people have lost hope so sport has got a way to unite people and bring hope. That is exactly what the guys have done and everyone is still celebrating and is very happy. It brings a different vibe to the country and it’s good to see.”
WATCH: RugbyPass Rugby Explorer takes a trek through South African rugby communities in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth
Comments on RugbyPass
excellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to comments