Ruan Pienaar facing a two-month injury layoff

Ulster scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar is facing an extended spell out of action after it was confirmed he suffered medial knee ligament damage playing for South Africa yesterday.

Pienaar was carried off late in the first half against New Zealand in Wellington yesterday with South Africa confirming afterwards that he will miss the rest of the Rugby Championship at the very least.

While Pienaar is due to have scans back home in South Africa to determine the severity of the injury, Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said after the game that he is likely to be ruled out for up to eight weeks.

The Springboks have two more games in the Rugby Championship, against Australia on September 27th and a rematch with the All Blacks in Johannesburg on October 4th, after which Pienaar was due back in Belfast with Ulster.

The number nine agreed a new three-year deal with the province in October of last year, rejecting overtures from big-spending French clubs to remain with Ulster where he has become the team’s key playmaker since joining in 2011.

His absence for the side’s first two Champions Cup matches, away to Leicester on October 18th and at home to defending champions Toulon a week later, will be a real blow to the team’s European ambitions.