Pienaar

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

South African rugby star Ruan Pienaar has played his last

game for Ulster.

But he and his family don't want to leave.

When you bring kids into your consideration, you know,

that's what really hurt me.

You are disappointed, then the anger kicked in a bit.

It's a controversy which has engulfed Irish rugby.

So, why can't he stay?

Ruan never, ever made it about the money.

In the modern game, that's one of the qualities that summed him up.

In his seven years here, Pienaar has left an indelible impression.

-COMMENTARY:

-Pienaar's going to score!

Both on the pitch...

..has to be the try of the season!

..and off it.

Probably a greater impact than any other player that's played for

Ulster that's not born and bred.

THEY CHEER

This is his story.

From he was old enough to walk, rugby was Ruan Pienaar's passion.

Growing up in Bloemfontein,

the capital city of the Free State of South Africa, he always dreamt

of emulating some of his sporting heroes and playing for his country.

South Africa's just a nation that's mad about rugby.

You know, it's almost a religion over there.

And for me, as a youngster,

I used to get up early in the mornings to watch the Springboks.

I was on the pitch every single day.

I went home quickly for lunch after school and then back,

back in to my training gear,

back to school and just kicked balls around.

I think rugby's always been something that I've loved,

something that I wanted to do.

Ruan rapidly rose through the ranks of the schoolboy game.

He was a member of the team which won the Junior Rugby World Cup.

Then aged 20 he signed for one of South Africa's biggest

professional sides, the Natal Sharks.

Yes, now, try to Ruan Pienaar!

Ruan's big break came two years later.

A senior international debut.

To go on and to represent your country was obviously a proud moment

for me, and especially also cos my dad played for South Africa.

I remember my dad told me that the first night before he played his Test match,

he slept in his Springbok kit and then I thought "I'll do the same."

The night before the first Test match I slept with my shorts and my jersey as well.

I thought if my dad did it, then I should do it, as well.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Ruan went on to win 88 caps.

And claim the greatest prize in the sport.

Helping South Africa lift the Rugby World Cup in France in 2007.

Also part of that Springbok squad was his good friend Johann Muller.

I met Ruan about 13 or 14 years ago now.

He stood out as a really strong individual,

somebody with fantastic potential like we all know,

but more importantly, you know, I think the thing that stood

out for me from Ruan, you know, was his character.

CROWD CHANT AND CLAP

Muller joined Ulster in 2010.

Around the same time,

Ruan married his long-time girlfriend Monique in South Africa.

It took a while before... before I really got to know him.

He was a very shy and quiet guy.

I think he wasn't really enjoying his rugby as much as

he used to do in South Africa, so we just thought, like,

maybe something needs to change.

When Johann Muller signed for Ulster, that sort of sparked that I

wanted to come abroad, and, well, I just spoke to David Humphreys.

He was director of rugby at that time.

And I said, "Johann, just ask him, if there's a spot for a number nine,

"then he must give me a call."

When you talked to Ruan,

it was about trying to show him the ambition of the club,

because he was still at that stage in his career -

quite often players who had moved across to Europe, they came

across purely and simply for the money at the end of their career.

We were signing a player who was in the prime of his career,

an established international player wanted by almost every club

in Europe.

Three months later, you know,

Ruan joined us in Belfast with Ulster and I remember him and

Monique walking through the doors at the arrival of Belfast City Airport.

I didn't know where Belfast was on the map really.

I didn't understand the Northern Ireland and the Ireland story,

and my mum telling us that Northern Ireland's one of the most

dangerous places in the world, you know?

It's not easy just leaving your country behind and everything

you know, and leaving the Sharks at that stage,

which was a great club and a great union for all of us.

It's a tough decision.

We came here as a just-married couple and I think maybe the

first drive into the old Ravenhill then, Monique looked at

me and she said, "Listen, what did we get ourselves into here?"

I was a bit shocked, because I was used to huge and beautiful stadiums.

I was like, "Ruan, what were we thinking?"

SHE LAUGHS

And I said, "Listen, you know, we can't back down now."

And then I realised it's not about how big the stadium is, or how

fancy the stadium is, it's really about the history and the support.

And after a few months I got it and I was like,

"No, we definitely made the right decision."

-ANNOUNCER:

-And stand up for the Ulstermen!

Ruan made an immediate impact.

-COMMENTARY:

-Pienaar looking for a try.

He's got it! What a way to make your Ulster debut!

Welcome to Ravenhill, Ruan Pienaar!

I was so nervous, because in a new environment, and you don't

know how the crowd will take to you and how your team-mates...

and you're so scared you have a bit of a shocker your first time,

or them thinking, "What did they think, signing this guy?"

And thankfully it went all right and we managed to win the game.

A man-of-the-match performance.

Straight between the visitors' posts.

And his exceptional displays continued.

And he's done it.

Tried to get the ball away. Did it go forward?

Not so. And it's going to be a try for Pienaar!

Pienaar himself.

Oh, wonderful by the Springbok.

Pienaar also showed his ability to stay calm under pressure.

Composure remembered fondly by one of his team-mates.

This is my kind of dream come true.

First game for Ulster.

And then I saw Ruan line the kick up and it was

a horrible night, as well. It was wet.

And in our own half. I remember having my head in my hands hoping it

would go over.

He's struck it nicely.

It needs to carry.

What a kick by Pienaar!

Just to see the way the team celebrated, I think not only

did it mean a lot to me, but to the club, as well,

cos it showed that through tough times and times when it looks

like we're down and out, we can fight and show

a bit of character and get over the line, you know.

And Pienaar the hero, and he can now smile and Ulster have won this game.

Ruan in the middle of it, just humble as ever,

didn't want to take any of the praise.

And there were more magical moments to come.

Ruan scored the winning points in the final seconds of two more matches.

Pienaar, drop at goal.

It's high, is it good?

It's a belter!

And that's time up! And Pienaar!

Would you believe it?

He's walloped it.

He's nailed it! Right at the death!

Can you believe it?

He's done it again!

Ruan Pienaar is just incredible!

Those couple of weeks just was...

I don't know what to think about it,

cos to get three opportunities I think in four weeks,

you know, to be in a position to kick the final kick and win the match or lose it, you know,

was unreal and I don't think I've ever experienced something like that.

You can't really underestimate what happened in those couple of

weeks to the team, cos I think that really put us in good

stead for what was to come the next couple of years.

While great things were happening on the pitch,

Ruan was very busy off it.

He attended Christian events across the province with many of his team-mates.

Ruan's faith is something which is very important to him.

And one of the reasons he came to Northern Ireland.

I struggled to make the decision to come abroad

and sort of felt I had to go, and then ended up praying

and the pastor's from Manchester and he said, "Listen, I feel

"that you've got a big decision to make regarding your career."

And he said that, "The Lord's opened this door for you,

"so it's safe for you to take this,

"and he's not only going to use you to play rugby, but also to spread your word" and, you know,

I feel I've been given a platform as a rugby player to do that,

just to glorify God for what he's given me,

the talents that he's given me, so, you know,

for people to be open to that in Northern Ireland is really special.

He's very adamant that, you know,

he's here because he felt God called him here at the time,

and he would say he doesn't have it all made in his life,

he doesn't have a perfect life, he still makes mistakes,

you know, he's not a perfect human.

But he believes, and I believe, you know, that God's forgiven him

for his sins and he just wants to tell other people about that.

More than 40,000 people across Ulster have heard Ruan speak

and share his story.

Loads of the guys have the same beliefs and we've managed to

start a little prayer meeting on a weekly basis.

It's great to meet with about six, seven guys and meet on

a weekly basis.

And to know that you've got that support and, you know, the

people with the same beliefs as you obviously is great.

And the other guys also respect it.

-CROWD SING:

-Stand up for the Ulstermen!

It was now just over a year since Ruan's arrival in Belfast.

And Ulster's fortunes were on the up.

Terrific Ulster scrum.

Williams in all sorts of trouble.

But here's Pienaar.

He's pulling the ears back.

He's not going to let this one go.

Bonus point try time for Ulster, courtesy of Ruan Pienaar.

Here's Dan Tuohy. Inside once again.

Oh, it's going to be a second Ulster try in the space of two minutes.

And it's Ruan Pienaar.

By the end of his second season, the team, now captained by

Johann Muller, reached the final of rugby's biggest club

competition, the European Cup, for the first time in 13 years.

To see how many people from Belfast travel.

I remember after our team meeting walking down the stairs.

It was packed with Ulster supporters.

You could hardly get out of the hotel.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Managed to get outside onto the bus and it was just Ulster supporters

everywhere on our way to the stadium.

And it would have made you emotional to realise how big this

occasion was, not only for us,

but for the whole of Belfast and Northern Ireland.

Ulster lost the final to Leinster,

but it had been an unforgettable run.

Oh, good feet, well done.

It's not just by playing rugby that Ruan Pienaar made

a significant contribution to Ulster.

Well done. Good stuff.

He also spent hours coaching and inspiring countless others in

schools and clubs across the province.

Eyes back here.

The thing that's probably so special about Ruan is what people don't see, like,

there was never any doubt about how good a player he was when

he signed, but for me it's watching how much he's changed as a person.

Oh, he's open! Well done.

Can't seem to do enough for people and, do you know,

the people just love him.

Ah, that's a good kick.

Well done.

Right, so, just keep it in your hand and then...

Just a nice strike, OK.

The impact he's had has been phenomenal.

Easy, look at that.

Well done.

Probably a greater impact than any other player that's played for Ulster that's not born and bred.

He's immersed himself in the culture.

Cheers.

People who don't even necessarily follow rugby would know who

Ruan Pienaar is and know of him,

and know the good work that he's done all round Ulster.

And that's a credit to him as an individual.

ENGINE RUNS

In 2013, as Ulster started a multi-million-pound

redevelopment of their stadium...

..Ruan was helping build momentum on the pitch.

Here's Pienaar.

Lovely little show of the ball.

Maybe the kick wasn't the right option. But he's charged it down.

Pienaar. And he's scored!

Well, it was the right option after all!

Well, Pienaar can do just about everything.

Charged down by Pienaar. It's going to be a third try,

a second charge-down try in two games by Ruan Pienaar.

And can he do no wrong, this amazing Springbok?

Try-scorer Hewitt gets it away. Oh, it's been intercepted.

Pienaar, he's got it back for Ulster.

CHEERING

Ulster reached the final of the Pro12 league play-offs in Dublin.

He will strike it as hard as he possibly can.

He's given it a good thump. That's trying to carry.

And he's got it.

Ruan scored all 18 points.

To make it five out of five.

But Ulster were defeated by Leinster once again.

CROWD SING

The respect the people's got for the players and the way they

support the team, whether it's hail, snow, sunshine, they're there.

Really humbling to see the people's appreciation of what I've

tried to do on the pitch and the team's tried to do on the pitch,

and they've made it extremely special.

PLAYERS CHAT

So, to the start of this season.

Ruan, aged 32, was keen to try and renew his contract to see out

his career in Belfast.

But he was informed by Ulster that the sport's governing body, the

Irish Rugby Football Union, would not sanction a further extension.

The IRFU stated that they wanted Ulster to develop players who

have a chance of going on to play for Ireland.

Ruan, they said, was preventing Irish-qualified Ulster players

from maximising their potential.

BBC NEWSLINE MUSIC

Sport, and Ulster Rugby says it wanted one of its star players, Ruan Pienaar, to stay.

When the news broke, there was shock and anger amongst Ulster supporters.

Rules seem to be rules in Dublin, and I'd have to say,

if he was a Leinster player, I don't think he'd be leaving.

I assume he has assisted not only the like of Paddy Jackson the inside, but other players, as well.

He's done nothing but good for Ulster Rugby and I think it's a disgrace he's having to leave.

Nobody wants him to leave and he doesn't want to leave, so I think they really should sort out

their rules and allow for situations like this.

48 hours after the announcement,

Pienaar turned in another man-of-the-match performance.

-COMMENTARY:

-Pienaar has charged it down.

Try number three for Ulster!

And guess who?

Ulster Rugby fought hard with the IRFU to try and keep their

star signing.

We wanted him to stay. We wanted him to stay badly.

We did everything in our power to do that.

We spent months negotiating and looked at all sorts of different

permutations, everything you could possibly think of to try and

encourage, I suppose, the IRFU to say "Listen, it's worth the punt,

"let him stay for a little bit longer."

But ultimately they are the employers.

They are the ones that dictate.

After you get the news and you are disappointed,

then the anger kicked in a bit.

I truly believe he's brought so much to Ulster Rugby,

and he can offer so much to Irish rugby.

Even if he can't play,

he can help develop young players to play for Ireland one day.

That made me angry, cos I thought, like, "He has given so much."

There's kids involved and they are just asking us to leave,

even though we want to stay, Ulster wanted him to stay, so, yeah,

I'm definitely going to laugh, I said I wasn't angry.

RUAN'S DAUGHTER LEMAY SINGS

I'm sort of at the back end of my career, so I felt that,

"Listen, if I can even stay and I can help youngsters come through the system..."

THEY CHEER

"..and sort of help them along with their careers,

"I would be happy to do that," but the decision's been made.

I need to respect that.

And I think when you bring kids into consideration, you know,

that's what really, you know, hurt me, that we couldn't stay,

so, yeah, it's a difficult one, obviously.

Yes!

THEY CHEER

Well done. Catch!

It's stressful.

And you've got to explain all of this to your kids,

which isn't easy, so, yeah, it's been quite challenging.

-Big treat, this, today.

-Yeah, I know.

'I feel it's actually harder to leave Belfast than it was to leave Durban.

'This is home now for us,

'and I think that says a lot about how we feel about Northern Ireland.

'We're in the stage of getting our British citizenship.

'This is home and think it would be difficult for anyone to leave'

their home, especially if you weren't ready to go.

The man who made the decision is Australian David Nucifora.

He is the IRFU Performance Director, and sanctions which foreign players

are allowed to be signed across the four professional teams in Ireland.

Mr Barak could not be persuaded to change his mind.

Through all those discussions, we didn't get the outcome that we all had hoped.

It went to levels through the IRFU, and locally, politicians,

you know, to try to make this happen.

Unfortunately, it hit a pass and it was unable to do it, so we can

argue till the cows come home, but ultimately you have to accept it.

He's got support from Pienaar, and Ruan Pienaar is in under the posts.

Right throughout European rugby, it was a huge shock that the IRFU would allow someone who'd come

and given so much to one club, would allow him to leave.

We all understand the IRFU policy around having local players

and making sure that the opportunity is there for players to come

through, but I would have argued very strongly that in Ruan's

case, when you look at the pathway, when you look,

he wasn't blocking any players coming through.

For that reason I believe that he should have been allowed to finish his career here.

If it wasn't for our faith, I think it would have been more difficult.

When we really just sat and we obviously prayed about it.

What makes it easier is there is a bigger plan for us,

so I think that started to help me to just work through the anger, as well.

Pienaar's there. Pienaar's going to get in.

Nobody's going to lay a glove on him.

When he was at the peak of his career, had literally been

playing such a central role in delivering Ulster success.

When we sat down to re-negotiate, his agent was pretty clear

that there were all the top clubs in France and England that were

looking at him, and probably every time, you thought he was going to go,

when you saw the amount of money that he was being offered elsewhere.

Certainly a multiple two or three times what Ulster were able to pay him.

I suppose in many ways, that's why it was turned round the other

way and the opportunity to keep him was there.

There's probably a huge sense of disappointment that that loyalty

that he has shown to the club wasn't reciprocated.

Ruan never, ever made it about the money.

And for me, in the modern game,

that's one of the qualities that summed him up.

Despite numerous attempts by us,

the IRFU said David Nucifora was too busy

to record an interview for this programme.

Well, Ruan Pienaar intercepts, and Pienaar gets away.

Pienaar has a dart himself. Gives it to Peter Nelson.

Peter Nelson runs up over halfway. He's got Paul Marshall with him.

Nelson inside to Paul Marshall. Back inside to Stockdale.

Ruan didn't let this disappointment affect him.

Marshall gets it away. Gives it to Pienaar. Pienaar's going to score!

It's going to be bonus-point time for Ruan Pienaar and for Ulster!

And that has to be the try of the season!

-My daughter's absolutely distraught that you are leaving.

-OK.

With just a few weeks left in Northern Ireland,

Ulster Rugby held a tribute dinner for Ruan.

-Are you all right?

-Good, thanks, are you good?

-Very good, thank you.

-That's good.

When we recruited Ruan,

we were looking for somebody who was world-class as a player,

who was world-class off the pitch, who would set the highest standards

of training, of teamwork, and he has exceeded all our expectations.

He has been tremendous on the pitch, he has galvanised the team,

he has inspired the fans.

And in his faith, in his personal life, he has done a great deal of good

for very, very, many people in Ulster.

-Thank you for all you've done for Ulster.

-Thank you very much. Thanks for coming.

A travesty you're leaving.

Every week, everybody sees, you know, the legacy he has left on the pitch in the performance

he puts in week in, week out, so, you know,

that kind of speaks for itself,

but then what's not seen is what he does elsewhere,

and how good a lad he is and how influential he is behind the scenes,

so I think in every way he's really... He's become an Ulsterman.

APPLAUSE

On the park, off the park,

grabbing a young guy and helping him with his kicking practice,

talking to a young guy after a game and putting an arm around his

shoulder, he's just a continuous sort of representation of

what's all is good in rugby and, you know, he will be missed.

It was time for Ruan's last game for Ulster.

The club's most capped player, Roger Wilson, was also making his

final appearance.

It was going to be an emotional day.

-Hi, Ruan, hi. Godspeed.

-Thank you.

'Tried to take an afternoon out before the game as I always do,

'and it was so tough, cos your mind just kept going in all directions.'

It's going to be tough.

'You play all different scenarios through your head, but,

you know, trying to get through it all right was really the focus.

I wasn't really worried about my performance and stuff.

Ruan's dad had flown in to join the rest of the family for

the big match against Leinster.

Obviously sad to say goodbye to all the team-mates and the fans, but

at a stage in the warm up, I thought, "How am I going to get through this?"

Cos I just didn't feel prepared to play a rugby match.

Bryn Cunningham phoned me, as well,

and said the kids will be running out with me as well.

That wasn't in the planning. And that sort of made it even worse.

Are you going to run?

-Yeah.

-Papa's coming.

CHEERING FROM DRESSING ROOM

APPLAUSE

As soon as I saw the family there, just, tears started running through

my, you know, down my cheeks, so it was pretty emotional.

CHANTING: Ruan! Ruan! Ruan!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

CHANTING: Ruan! Ruan! Ruan!

I think, cos it was such a long build-up and you thought about

what it's going to be like,

your last game for Ulster, I think everything just boiled over.

Good luck, brother, all right?

It was a really special occasion. I think the support was fantastic.

Amongst the fans for the fond farewell was friend Johann Muller,

who had also travelled from South Africa.

You know, three years ago I played my last game, you know,

at this exact same stadium, and Ruan was in the car with

me when we left home, you know, that afternoon on our way to Ravenhill,

and we shed a tear together in the car and I said to him, then,

"Ruan, when you play your last game I'll be here, you know, for you, as well."

He never believed me, so I think he was very surprised to see me.

-COMMENTARY:

-Still Pienaar. And again it's Herring.

Very close to that line.

Presented there, Luke Marshall. Can he squeeze over?

All they have to do is touch the base of the post.

All the pressure coming from the men in white at the moment.

My daddy there!

LOUD ATMOSPHERE

Pienaar runs wide, little chip.

Trimble. Gathers and scores!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Ulster's captain takes the perfect kick from one of Ulster's legends.

And gets the second home try.

It's nice to be here, but sad also,

because Ruan is a great Ulsterman, he wants to stay here, and, er...

It was heartbreaking, you know, to think it's his last game for

Ulster, and, yeah, that's very, very, very, very sad.

Grandchildren, you know, it's unbelievable.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

CHANTING: Ruan! Ruan! Ruan!

MONIQUE SOBS

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

CHANTING: Ruan! Ruan! Ruan!

'It was incredible to have the kids there,

'Monique on the pitch with me, my dad.

'That was really special to have them there.

'And my dad's come a long way to watch the game, and I know that he was really, um, proud,

'and he was really pleased that he could have been here and, yeah, I'm just so happy

'that he could be here to experience that with us

'as a family and, yeah, just to see that appreciation of the fans

'and, yeah, one that I'll definitely remember for a long time.'

My man! Well done, brother. Well done. Awesome.

-COMMENTARY:

-The accolade of the season.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Farewell and many, many, many thanks,

to the utterly magnificent Ruan Pienaar.

What a difference he has made. What an impression he has made.

What a standard he has set.

And what a legacy he will leave.

-Well done, buddy.

-Thanks.

-Well done, buddy.

APPLAUSE

-Thanks.

-Are you all right?

-Yeah.

'It's humbling when you run off the pitch and you know it's your last time,

'and to see the support that we've been given over the last couple of years and to, you know,

'to get an ovation like that and get the win on the day for

'me was enough, and to finish on a high like that was incredible.'

Ruan now only has a few days left in Northern Ireland

before he and his family move to the south of France.

He's joining a new club - Montpellier.

But it won't be long before he returns.

I would love to come back and get involved with the academy if I can.

I enjoy schoolboy rugby.

I enjoy, like, seeing youngsters coming through

I think might be a potential rugby player and play for

a province or for their country one day.

So that's something I'm passionate about,

and if that would be possible I'd love to do that,

but even if it's not, I think we'll still end up in Northern Ireland.

That's.. I think we are 99% sure that we'd love to come back here

and come and settle here one day.

I think Ruan can leave here knowing that he has made

a change, and he's really someone that you can look up to.

And getting... Seeing the letters he gets every day from parents just

thanking him for the influence he's had on their kids, that is just...

That made everything worth it.

We've had a great time here. It's been awesome.

My family's grown and we're happy.

This is home for us now.