Ruan Pienaar would consider extending his time at Ulster Rugby

South African scrumhalf, Ruan Pienaar has said he would be tempted to look at an extension to his contract with Ulster - if they wanted him to stay.
Ruan PienaarRuan Pienaar
Ruan Pienaar

The 31-year-old’s current contract is due to finish in June 2017.

But on Wednesday Pienaar, who has just returned from the Rugby World Cup with a bronze medal, said if Ulster wanted him to stay on beyond that he would certainly consider it.

The appointment of Les Kiss as new director of rugby until at least June 2019 may also have put Pienaar in the notion.

The Springbok has been Ulster’s highest profile signing when he joined in 2010.

He has made no secret of how happy he and his family have been in Northern Ireland and his presence in the squad can also not be under-estimated.

Asked if he would be tempted to stay on with Ulster beyond 2017 with Kiss now at the helm, Pienaar said: “I guess if they (Ulster) did not think I was too old and they thought I could still add value here, then definitely I would be thinking about it.

“I still have two seasons on my contact so we will see.

“For now I just want to come back into the team, perform well and be consistent in my performance and add value where I can.”

Ulster face Oyonnax in their opening European Champions Cup match in France on Saturday.