Ruan Pienaar signs for the Toyota Cheetahs

Ruan Pienaar is making a return to the PRO14, but it’s not with his beloved Ulster Rugby.

Pienaar left his Montpellier contract a year early, with many predicting some sort of return to Belfast being on the cards.

However the Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd have confirmed the signing of former Springbok scrumhalf who “wishes to further his rugby career in the Free State”.

Ruan signed a two-year contract with the Toyota Cheetahs.

A club statement reads: “The skilful player represented the Springboks in 88 test matches. Ruan experience in Guinness PRO14 will be valuable for the Toyota Cheetah as he represented the Irish side from Belfast in 141 matches between 2010 and 2017.

“Pienaar was named at scrum-half in the Magners League Team of the Year for the 2010/11 season and also scooped the Magners League player of the Year award which was voted for by his peers.

“Pienaar was again selected at scrum-half for the RaboDirect Pro12 Dream Team for the 2011/12 season and was also named captain of the side.”

In 2012 Pienaar played in the Heineken Cup Final, scoring 9 points to Leinster. In 2013 he played in the Pro 12 Final, scoring all of Ulster’s 18 points to Leinster.

Between 2004 and 2010 he represented the Sharks in 32 Currie Cup games and 67 Super Rugby matches.