ULSTER SCRUMHALVES Ruan Pienaar and Paul Marshall have each signed new two-year contracts, keeping them at Ravenhill until June 2014. Springbok Pienaar had been negotiating with Ulster since the summer and has finally agreed terms while Marshall, who got his chance with the side when Pienaar was at the World Cup and then injured, has impressed.

Marshall joined Ulster on a full contract at the start of the 2006-07 season having graduated from the Ulster Academy. He made his senior squad debut that season against Newport. A former pupil of Methodist College, he has played at Ireland Under-21, Ireland A and Sevens level.

Pienaar, who has been capped 51 times for his country, joined Ulster on a two-year contract at the beginning of the 2010/11 season from the Natal Sharks. At the end of his first season in Ulster he not only collected the player-of-the-year award at the Ulster Rugby Awards but also scooped the Magners League player-of-the-year award, voted for by his peers, and was named in the Magners League team of the year.

“We are delighted that Ruan has chosen to extend his contract with us,” said Ulster director of rugby David Humphreys.

“He has been instrumental in the team’s success. He’s a true match winner and a total professional from his attitude in the gym, through the mentoring role he plays with younger players.

“Paul has really impressed with his performances, evident last week when he was involved in three of the four tries Ulster scored against Edinburgh.”