FRANCOIS PIENAAR yesterday became the latest glittering prize from the southern hemisphere to be captured by an ambitious English club. Saracens, who snapped up Australia's Michael Lynagh earlier this year, have signed South Africa's World Cup, winning captain on a two-year contract.
He makes his first appearance early in the New Year. Pienaar, who is widely regarded as the greatest rugby ambassador the Springboks produced, will help, Saracens broaden their popular appeal on and off the pitch. His dynamic style of play at blind-side flanker and his easy rapport with fans and the media should ensure the London club get genuine value for money.
It is understood that Pienaar, using an agent as intermediary, had been in contact with other English clubs, notably Leicester, who are eager to boost their attendances as well as their competitive strength. He is the first South African Test player to join a British club since the international boycott on the Springboks was lifted five years ago.
Pienaar, 30 next month, will form one of the most powerful back rows in the English leagues alongside the England A regulars, Tony Diprose and Richard Hill.
Yesterday he admitted he still wanted to add to his 29 caps: "I am determined to challenge for my place back in the South African team and eventually to go back home and put something back into South African rugby.
"When I was left out of the tour squad, I realised how much South Africa still meant to me even after the World Cup final. The support for me went on for weeks and I will never complain about criticism again. I will be thrilled about going back into the South African team against the Lions next year - or even for Transvaal," he said.
"However, I am committed to Saracens and you have got to get over the hurt of being dropped. I am still hungry for rugby. I need rugby. Rugby does not need me." No one can deny that Nigel Wray, the City millionaire who has bankrolled Saracens, is serious about signing Test stars with a world class pedigree Lynagh (72 caps) helped Australia win the World Cup at Twickenham in 1991 and the Frenchman Philippe Sella (111 caps) played in the 1987 final which was won by New Zealand. England scrum-half Kyran Bracken and the Irish internationals Richard Wallace and Paddy Johns are also in the team's line-up.
A law graduate, Pienaar was controversially omitted from South Africa's current tour of France and Wales for which Gary Teichmann was appointed captain.
Last year Pienaar led a walkout of Transvaal players over pay and also acted as a go-between for Kerry packer's abortive World Rugby Corporation. That probably made his omission from the touring party a foregone conclusion after he lost his test place last June due to a head injury.
