Zane Kirchner: Leaving Ulster will break Ruan Pienaar’s heart

Leinster’s South African star Zane Kirchner says Ruan Pienaar has been left “heartbroken” by the IRFU decision to block Ulster’s plans to re-sign the star.

Pienaar, the 88-times capped Springbok, was desperate to prolong his stay with Ulster, whom he joined in 2010, but David Nucifora, the IRFU High Performance Director, rejected the province’s request to re-sign the 32-year-old, telling the province to focus on homegrown talent.

Both club and player wanted the South African to stay on and continue to assist with the development of younger players from within the club, but the IRFU would not budge, and this will be his last season at Ravenhill.