Bok icon Ruan Pienaar embarks on coaching journey as stellar career ends

The 40-year-old is featuring in his final tournament as a player in the SA Cup and will move into coaching immediately after his last game.

The 88-Test cap back is widely respected for his rugby IQ and was reportedly offered coaching roles during his time at Ulster and Montpellier but was not ready to hang up his boots.

However, he is now ready to call it a day and the Cheetahs have confirmed that he will take the first steps in his coaching career when he joins the Free State U21 and Toyota Academy coaching staff as their new backline and attack coach.

Pienaar is the second Rugby World Cup-winning star who will join the Cheetahs' coaching ranks, following his long-time teammate Frans Steyn, who is currently the Free State side's director of rugby.

"Ruan brings a wealth of experience, and the Cheetahs are fortunate to have him in our camp. He will also be involved with all the professional teams, and his job will be to further improve the skill set needed in the way the Toyota Cheetahs wants to play," COO of the Free State Cheetahs, MJ Smith said.

"Ruan will be the bridge between the juniors and seniors and raise the next generation of senior players by equipping them to play on a higher level. We need continuity between the teams."

The veteran Cheetahs star is the last of the 2007 World Cup-winning Springboks to hang up his boots, with each of Jake White's stars now retired.

Pienaar features in the top 10 of the most capped Springboks, making his debut under White back in 2006, earning his final cap at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

During his Test career, he started at scrumhalf, flyhalf and fullback for South Africa.

Having started his playing career at the Sharks, Pienaar made the move to Ulster in 2010 and became a fan favourite in Belfast, playing over 140 matches for the Irish province. He departed for Montpellier in 2017 before returning to his roots and joining the Cheetahs in 2020.

"I'm excited about the new role and look forward to the challenge and learning," Pienaar said.

READ MORE: Bulls set to be without Johan Goosen as flyhalf learns fate after red card