Ruan Pienaar does not rule out a return to Belfast in future

It would be in a backroom role at Kingspan Stadium if it were to happen, age, more than Irish rugby red tape ruling out a playing return.

The former Ulster player, but still a fans favourite in the Province after seven years with the club, is back in Belfast this week ahead of Saturday’s Guinness PRO14 crunch game with Ulster in Conference A.

Forced to move on three years ago due to the IRFU succession planning, Pienaar spent a spell with French Top 14 side Montpellier before returning to South Africa where he joined the Cheetahs - and has been, as expected, helping them return to challenging for a play-off place in the PRO14 this season.

The 35-year-old has not hidden his disappointment at that decision just over three years ago in previous interviews and at the Cheetahs training session at Newforge Country Club on Tuesday he confirmed there had been talks to try and bring him back earlier, but the IRFU halted that too.

“There was talk about it but I think it was always going to be difficult,” Pienaar said.

"I think their decision was made. I’m not going to mention names but probably he was always going to stick with it. That was disappointing but it is what it is.

“You have to move on and make the best of it.”

Pienaar still has his house in Belfast and asked if there was a longer term plan to return to Northern Ireland - and even maybe be involved with Ulster - he said: “we can always come back, but we're giving South Africa a full go of it as long as we can. We always feel like we'll end up back here in the future but we're not sure. We definitely wouldn't mind if something like that was on the cards in the future.”

The reference to the ‘we’ in that is his wife and children, who were “fond of living here.”

Indeed, Pienaar admitted that his wife was really jealous that he was back in Belfast and she was not with him.

“I see the weather has not changed much,” added Pienaar in reference to the chilly Belfast air, and having had to play Leinster in Dublin on Saturday during Storm Dennis, but “we were always made feel welcome here and that is what makes it so special. It is really good to be back.”

There were emotional scenes in Kingspan Stadium when Peinaar made his final appearance for the Province and he admits it will probably be an emotional return when the sides meet on Saturday evening.

But sentiment aside, this is an important rugby match between the sides sitting second and third in Conference A and going head to head for a play-off place in the PRO14 Championship.

“It's important for both teams. We're sitting second and third, so whatever happens on Saturday will be very important for both teams.

“For us, we know - and I know especially - how difficult it is to come to Belfast and win a game against Ulster. They've (Ulster) been in great form the last couple of months. It's a big test for our young group and we're going to have to go to a place like Kingspan Stadium and soak up an atmosphere that's very different to what we're used to.

“It's exciting for this group and hopefully we can play the brand of rugby we enjoy playing and put up a good performance against a good Ulster team.”

In their third season just joining the PRO14, Cheetahs are back pushing for those play-offs which is important in the wider terms of the competition. They reached the knockout stages two years ago, but disappointed last year.

The return of Pienaar is certainly part of the reason for the improvement and he admits it is important for the South African side to do well.

“We've (Cheetahs) spoken about it. We don't want to just be in these competitions, we want to be competitive. We need to learn how to be competitive on a regular basis when we go on the road and it's cold and wet.

“As a group, we still need to learn how to play these conditions, but the more we play in it, the better we get,” he added.

Weather conditions at the weekend will not likely prevail to see an open game of running rugby as was witnessed in Bloemfontein at the start of the season, although Ulster fans will not want to see a repeat of that, losing 63-26.

Pienaar orchestrated that victory and he will play a key role in their attempt to complete the double - the stakes are high and there will be no room for sentiment - well for 80-plus minutes anyway.