Evergreen Ruan Pienaar praised after guiding Cheetahs to glory: 'The hardest worker in our team'

In Mangaung

Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie extolled the virtues of having a senior professional like Ruan Pienaar ready and available for service, saying the 39-year-old halfback is the hardest worker in their team.

Pienaar scored 10 points in the Cheetahs' 25-17 Currie Cup final win against the Pumas at the Free State Stadium on Saturday.

Pienaar, who was born in Mangaung and made his name as a seriously skilled halfback at Grey College and through Free State's junior structures, made his name at the Sharks and was part of the 2007 Rugby World Cup winning group before moving to Ulster in 2010.

He came back to Bloemfontein in 2019 after a short stint at Montpellier and has become an important playing cog for the Cheetahs.

MATCH REPORT | Seventh title heaven for Cheetahs as gutsy effort earns them Currie Cup success against Pumas

Pienaar's stay at the Cheetahs has been extended by a further year and based on his calm and collected performance in the final, it was easy to see why.

Fourie said they were fortunate to have a player of Pienaar's quality and ability in their squad.

"When we played Pro14 rugby, some of the overseas media asked about his BMT and his involvement in the game and that was three years ago," Fourie said.

"He's still going and probably is the hardest worker in our team at that age, which is why he can still play high-quality rugby.

"He's an unbelievable person, rugby player, and father for his kids as well. It's a privilege to have the experience and quality of Ruan in our squad."

A beneficiary of Ruan's experience is fellow halfback Rewan Kruger, who didn't quite kick on after his stints with the South African Under-20 squad in 2017 and 2018.

Kruger, who also played for Grey College as a scrumhalf, has been