RUGBY NEWS - Toyota Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie revealed that veteran halfback Ruan Pienaar was instrumenin luring Springbok double World Cup winner Frans Steyn back to Bloemfontein.
Steyn signed a contract to return to the province where he played his schoolboy rugby and according to Fourie, Pienaar, who returned to the side last year, was a key man in securing Steyn’s signature.
“When I joined the Cheetahs, MJ Smith (Cheetahs Director of Rugby) told me Frans wants to come back to Bloemfontein, wants to buy a house here and wants his children to go to school in Bloemfontein because that is where it all started,” Fourie explained.
“So I made contact with his agent and Ruan Pienaar also helped a bit. Then I spoke to Rassie (Erasmus) to find out how SA Rugby sees the situation. Rassie was very supportive and also wanted Frans to come to Bloem to join us, and he helped us as well.”
Fourie laughed when asked what role Pienaar had played, saying only he had provided him with some “inside info” when it was needed to bring Frans back to Bloemfontein.
“The two of them played together at Montpellier, and they have been big mates since they were at school. They also played together for a long time at the Sharks. They are good friends. Ruan helped me get in contact with Frans, and to negotiate the deal. He gave me some inside info sometimes,” Fourie laughed.
