Keep Ruan at Ulster

surely the IRFU must ensure players of Ruan Pienaar's caliber are allowed to remain, to play both with and against, in the Pro12. If we are ever to consistantly compete at the same level as the southern hemisphere countries.........WISE UP IRFU

THERE"S ONLY ONE RUAN PIENARR!!!!!

By this action, Ulster's performance will go down, not up. Better to have Ruan pass on his knowledge to up and coming young players.

D4 do not appear to realise how strongly rugby people in Ulster feel about this issue. There is a widespread belief that the decision would gave been different if a similar situation had arisen in Leinster.

This is an appalling decision by the IRFU and totally fails to appreciate the contribution which he has made to both Ulster and Irish Rugby

Keep Ruan in N.I.

Perhaps we should have a succession plan to keep people like Nucifora away from any part of Ulster Rugby!!

Time for IRFU to wake up!

IRFU can't see 'the wood from the trees'. Its all about ticking boxes rather than any intelligent thought. Not surprising coming from an outsider (Nucifora)

I was genuinely shocked to hear that the exceptional contribution made by Ruan Pienaar to Ulster and World rugby should treated with such a low level of disrespect by these decision-makers at IRFU. They do not represent the honourable and hospitable character of the Irish nor Irish rugby. Ryan put family, community and pride in his continuing contribution to Irish provincial rugby ahead of financial gain or raw ambition. We salute the Irish Caesars with a damming thumbs-down!

Speechless. Let's get a grip and focus the mind!

If it was Leinster or Munster would the decision be different. It seems they are deliberately doing there best to undermine Ulster rugby

The IRFU should also consider the damage such a policy has to the Pro 12 brand. How do we compete against the French and English when we're stripped of our top players?

Dear IRSC, An open letter to all Ulster Rugby supporters Needless to say I share in the collective anger at the IRFU’s decision not to allow Ruan extend his contract with Ulster – a decision that stinks on many different levels... My understanding of the seemingly rather opaque and malleable succession policy is that Leinster, Munster and Ulster can only have one overseas player per position. Given that Leinster have signed New Zealand scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park to cover the retirement of Eoin Reddan, this now accounts for the overseas 9 position and must therefore be the fundamental reason Ruan is being forced out of Ulster? How exactly does this benefit Irish player development?! Three of the best young scrum-halves in the country are currently at Connacht – Kieran Marmion, Caolin Blade and John Cooney – Cooney being a former Leinster player. Why then sacrifice a player who clearly has and continues to have a wholly positive impact on the development of the young Irish players around him for a potential journeyman, brought in to to plug a hole at Leinster. If this was truthfully about the development of young Irish players then the IRFU could have recalled the excellent Cooney to Leinster and let Ruan finish his career at Ulster, and in doing so pass on his experience to the academy players. Secondly, and just as importantly, is the human (or inhuman) side of the decision. Ruan has made a marked commitment to Ulster society as a whole. He, his wife and family have expressed their wishes to maintain this commitment. The IRFU’s lack of respect for their personal situation is barbaric, not least because the decision does not fit the stated objectives of the succession policy – as acknowledged by the wider Irish rugby media – and therefore must have some ulterior motive, i.e. pandering to the short term needs of Leinster. This treatment of Ruan and his family is intolerable. I am sure that the Ulster Rugby negotiating team did all

9 years ago Featured

If Ulster had an upcoming No9 yes he may hold them back a bit but we don't have one. Ruan brings the best out of the whole back line so the development of our upcoming backs is going to suffer. Ruan controls games and enables Ulster to get the best out of the rest of the backs.

Keep Ruan at Ulster - he will aid the development of the young players at club

As a Leinister supporter I have always been impressed the way Ruan conducts himself on and off the pitch let him stay

I’m from England. It’s great news for the rest of the NH that the IRFU are damaging Ulster’s chances in Europe and harming the development of the most promising set of backs around.

Keep Ruan at Ulster.

He should be allowed to stay. Doing more good for the local game by keeping him in Ulster.