PHOTO: Richard Springorum
FORMER Pumas coach Riaan Pienaar has officially joined the Rhinos 1 coaching team for the rest of the 2014 season and will lead the set-up in 2015.
With the chips down and no hopes of a turn-around for the Rhinos, Pienaar has risen to the challenge and hopes to use his coaching experience to keep the side away from the dreaded promotion/relegation zone.
Having lost all first round games by over 50 points or more, Pienaar will certainly have his hands full and work cut out for him.
The only light at the end of the tunnel is the fact that there are still six games to go, which could save the Rhinos if they can find the big W.
‘I aim to get discipline back into the club and start building for next year.
‘Rugby is my passion and I love the challenge and helping the underdog.
‘I would like to work on the clubs structuring and management side of things from the very top all the way down to the players,’ said Pienaar.
Riaan moved his harvesting business to Empangeni in February this year.
He started coaching a senior club side in Pretoria in 2004, then moved to Mpumalanga in 2006 where he coached a Lowveld team in the premier league, then coached at Malalane Rugby Club from 2009-2013, where he won the super top 8 once and ended second once.
But his biggest accomplishment is coaching the senior Pumas side in the Community Cup and first division Currie Cup leagues from 2009-2013.
Riaan has been helping out with Felixton College’s first team rugby side, and now has officially come into the Rhinos set-up.
‘I believe that the talent is here in Zululand, but it needs to be nurtured and the players need to show a better level of commitment.’
