“To be getting this accolade is like coming full circle for me. It really is humbling.”
These were sentiments shared by former Springbok captain, Francois Pienaar, after receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on March 25.

In his acceptance speech, Pienaar attributed his success to the opportunities afforded to him along his journey. He reflected on his formative years at one of UJ’s legacy institutions, then known as the Rand Afrikaans Universiteit (RAU), and expressed how this led him to being who he is today. “I feel like one of the luckiest sports men in the country. I have had the opportunity to experience what sport can do. This is indeed a full circle moment for me, and I feel very blessed to be able to receive this accolade from the University today.”

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Beyond being the place that launched his rugby career through a scholarship, Pienaar shared a personal anecdote. “This university was the place where I met my wife, Nerine, at the D labs. We were attending our first class, private law 101, and we haven’t looked back since.”

On a more sombre note, Pienaar took the opportunity to thank the two giants, to whom he attributes his success. “Allow me to highlight two giants, Moir ‘Kitch’ Christie, our coach, mentor, a fighter, a believer, and a genius, and Nelson Mandela. The reason I am getting this honorary degree is because of these giants, on whose shoulders I was able to stand from a very young age. Because of them, I was lucky enough to do extraordinary things, and for this, I am deeply grateful.”

Pienaar is a towering figure in South African sport, whose leadership became a defining symbol of national unity. Among his impressive list of accolades, perhaps his most significant was his leadership of the 1995 Springbok team, crowned world champions in that year. The win came on the back of a tumultuous period in South Africa, and was supported by the country’s first democratically elected president Nelson Mandela, marking a moment in our collective history that still stands as a symbol of unity, resilience, and triumph of the human spirit.

Pienaar’s rugby career began in 1989, when he started playing for Transvaal (now the Golden Lions). Over his tenure, he played in 100 matches and captained the team 89 times, guiding them to multiple Currie Cup and Super 10 victories and establishing himself as a key leader in South African provincial rugby.

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In 1993, he made his test debut for the Springboks, and was appointed captain from the outset. He remained captain for all 29 test matches he played, an unprecedented achievement. He was the captain of the Springboks during the historic 1995 Rugby World Cup victory against New Zealand.

Following his retirement from international rugby in 1996, Pienaar led rugby clubs, worked as a decorated sportscaster, and ventured into the world of business, through the establishment of sports businesses, one of which is the hugely successful Varsity Cup. His vision of sports and academic excellence, changing the lives of young people, is recognised with every season. Youth development is also something he’s been passionate about, and has realised this through the Make A Difference Leadership Foundation, which gives tomorrow’s leaders access to higher education through a scholarship programme.

At the end of his speech, Pienaar shared important life hacks, particularly with the graduates and other young people in the audience. He highlighted to them the importance of hard work, critical thinking, and approaching life with a positive attitude. He sees these as the tools to building a successful life.

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