Ben Pienaar

{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Ben Pienaar

| image =

| birth_name = Benjamin Pienaar

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|09|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Virginia, Free State, South Africa

| height = {{convert|1.93|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|100|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url= http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/leicester_tigers.php?section=1 |title= Aviva Premiership Rugby – Gloucester Rugby |work= web page |publisher= Premier Rugby |accessdate= 3 September 2011 |url-status= dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120616063525/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/leicester_tigers.php?section=1 |archivedate= 16 June 2012 }}

| nickname =

| school = Gresham's, Langley School, Loddon

| university =

| relatives =

| ru_position = Back Row Forward

| ru_amateuryears =

| ru_amateurclubs = Norfolk, England Schools

| ru_clubyears = 2006–2012
2012–2013
2013–

| ru_proclubs ={{nowrap| Leicester Tigers
Moseley
London Welsh}}

| ru_clubcaps =

| ru_clubpoints =

| ru_nationalyears =

| ru_nationalteam =

| ru_nationalcaps =

| ru_nationalpoints =

| ru_sevensnationalyears =

| ru_sevensnationalteam =

| ru_sevensnationalcomp =

| pcupdate =

| repupdate =

}}

Ben Pienaar (born 10 September 1986) is a rugby union player for London Welsh in the Aviva Premiership, having formerly played for Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership.[http://www.leicestertigers.com/squad/players.php?player=15819&includeref=dynamic Ben Pienaar] at Leicester Tigers profiles online (accessed 12 April 2009)

Born in South Africa, Pienaar previously played for Langley School, Loddon before moving to Gresham's School and for England Schools,[http://www.irishrugby.ie/6855_3546.php Good Win For Ireland Schools] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120173204/http://www.irishrugby.ie/6855_3546.php |date=20 November 2007 }} report dated 8 April 2004 at irishrugby.ie (accessed 20 February 2008)

He represented Norfolk from U-14s to U-16s, then was capped by England at U-16 and U-19 level.

Outside rugby, Pienaar is also a past Junior National Champion at judo.

Following injury and suspension of the more established number eights at Tigers, Pienaar had an opportunity for a run in the first team earning the praise of the coaches in the process.{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/match_reaction/0,20244,11069_3015161,00.html|title=Rookies earn rave reviews|date=21 March 2009|publisher=Sky Sports|accessdate=2009-04-12|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009181703/http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/match_reaction/0%2C20244%2C11069_3015161%2C00.html|archivedate=9 October 2012}} Pienaar was added to Tigers Heineken Cup squad for the knock-out stages of the 2008–09 competition.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/rugby_union/7974068.stm|title=Bath and Tigers boost Euro squads|date=31 March 2009|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2009-04-12}}