Springbok star Pienaar agrees new Ulster deal

Springbok scrum-half Ruan Pienaar has given Ulster a massive boost on the eve of the Heineken Cup campaign by signing a three-year contract extension.

Pienaar, 29, had been the subject of intense speculation linking him with a move to European champions Toulon when his current deal at Ravenhill expired at the end of this season but the province yesterday announced they had retained his services until at least the summer of 2017.

Only just back in Belfast having won his 71st cap for South Africa against New Zealand in Johannesburg on Saturday, Pienaar is in contention for his first start of his fourth season at Ulster when Leicester Tigers visit Ravenhill on Friday.

“I am delighted to be staying at Ulster,” he said. “I have really enjoyed my first three seasons at the province and I am looking forward to helping the team compete for silverware in the coming years.”

Ulster director of rugby David Humphreys, added: “To be successful, you need top-class players, therefore I am extremely pleased that Ruan, who is one of the best scrum-halves anywhere in the world, is extending his time with us.

“It was no surprise to us that his services were coveted by other clubs... Ruan’s decision to commit to three more years at Ravenhill is a huge endorsement of what we are doing at Ulster.”