Francois Pienaar

A legendary figure in Rugby, Francois Pienaar is famed for his time as a South African rugby player in the position of flanker. Having had the privilege of captaining the Springbok team and achieved 29 International caps, Francois has developed impeccable skills in teamwork and leadership, topics which he often covers as a sports speaker. Now booked as a speaker for corporate events, Francois is the perfect after-dinner or keynote speaker to share his experiences of playing and having the courage to lead.

Now retired, Francois formerly played for the South African squad and was the Captain of the Springbok team from his first rugby test. With his talent as a player evident, Francois is famed for helping his team achieve victory at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Throughout his time as a player, Francois was a pivotal team player, presented with the Webb Ellis Cup by no other than Nelson Mandela. Revered for his playing skills, Francois has also been recognised as the 1995 Rugby Personality of the Year and inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame and the IRB Hall of Fame.

Francois first burst onto the scene of rugby back in 1989, playing for a provincial team- Transvaal Province. Immediately proving himself talented in the sport Francois was scouted to join the South African team, otherwise known as Springbok, in 1993. An instant favourite, Francois was given the honour of becoming Captain of the Springbok team and went on to captain the team in the widely remembered victory of 1995. After making 29 international appearances for the South African team, Francois was dropped and he went on to join Saracens as a player and coach. Francois has also acted as the CEO of Saracens and been the Captain of the Barbarians team.

Other prominent roles of Francois’ include being the Provincial Chairman of First National Bank, the Head of Sponsorship and Strategic Business Development for First Rand Group and a pundit for ITV. He has also become well known for his charity work, founding Make A Difference charity which focuses on development in South Africa. Throughout his career, Francois received several awards including Newsmaker of the Year and Rugby Personality of the Year. He also claimed recognition at 50th place on the Top 100 Great South Africans list and was inducted into the Rugby Hall of Fame. He is also well known for his friendship formed with Nelson Mandela and is widely regarded as a great in the world of rugby.

Today, Francois is often booked as a speaker for a range of rugby and sports-themed events. Having captained South African rugby to some of their most prominent victories, Francois knows what it takes to be a successful leader and develop teamwork and teambuilding. As a speaker, Francois is well-positioned to speak on topics such as leadership, teamwork, determination and rugby. He also covers topics such as the courage to lead, making dreams a reality and his friendship with Nelson Mandela. A seasoned speaker, Francois Pienaar is the perfect choice for a range of keynote and after-dinner events.