Long-time lurker, first time poster.
Thought everyone should see this:
http://www.keo.co.za/2010/05/28/pienaar-off-to-ireland/
"
Sharks refute Pienaar move
Rudolf Straeuli denies that Ruan Pienaar has signed a two-year deal with Ulster and says the Irish club are breaching IRB regulations.
Pienaar’s move to Northern Ireland has been speculated about since before the start of the Super 14, but the Sharks say Ulster have no right to speak to him yet as his contract only expires at the end of this year. Reports on the weekend also stated that Pienaar’s relationship with Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has soured, and De Villiers said that Pienaar is likely to leave at the end of the year.
Although the Sharks acknowledged the move is on the cards, commercial manager Straeuli said it wasn’t confirmed.
‘Basically, they’re announcing something they can’t announce,’ Straeuli told keo.co.za.
Ulster have stated that the deal is already done and that they’re in talks with the Sharks regarding Pienaar’s release date.
‘We’re in no negotiations with them,’ said Straeuli. ‘We have a right to match their offer and we won’t release him, we’re fighting for him.
‘According to IRB regulations they are speaking to a player outside of the window period in terms of when his contract ends.’
Johann Muller’s departure to Ulster was confirmed in February, and since then the club’s operations director David Humphreys has been trying to entice Pienaar to join Muller and BJ Botha in Belfast. Humphreys came to Durban at the start of the year, where he also reportedly spoke to Pienaar.
‘We were well aware of Johann’s situation the whole time. But with Ruan, they aren’t consulting with the right parties,’ said Straeuli.
Pienaar also has a Bok contract until the end of this year, but according to weekend reports coach De Villiers seems resigned to the fact Pienaar will leave. De Villiers has repeatedly stated his preference for selecting locally-based players, and if Pienaar were to head north under a year before the World Cup, his chances would be severely jeopardised.
Straeuli wouldn’t confirm or deny whether Pienaar was looking to leave and said the Sharks would arrange a meeting with him on his return from Bok duty.
Meanwhile, as the Irish media and Ulster have been stating for over a month, they consider Pienaar’s arrival a formality.
‘Bringing Ruan to Ulster is a massive statement of our ambition to be competing with the top teams in the Magners League and European Cup,’ said Humphreys.
‘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.’
Pienaar will feature at flyhalf in the Test against Wales in Cardiff on 5 June, while the Bok squad for internationals against France and Italy will be announced the next day.
By Grant Ball"
Pardon me while I go for a lie down in a darkened room.
was a bit worried how long is contract was as some reports had it for another season, depends now if he plays for SA when we will see him.
Hmmm anyone of Rod So'ialo, Wanneburg or Whitelock (Crusaders isn't he) would do a decent job. I honestly didn't think the Branch would have had enough money after the Pienaar signing...things must either have been a lot better than some would lead you to believe or we're going into the red big style and hoping the gamble pays off.
