Montpellier centre Johan Goosen finished off an excellent team try as the French side overcame a forward pounding to edge Leicester Tigers 18-17 in the European Challenge Cup final at Twickenham.
Montpellier have also halted training after a player's partner came into contact with someone who had contracted coronavirus.
The Boks could have used a player of Pienaar's experience and versatility on tour to Europe, and at the Rugby World Cup in Japan next year, but he says that chapter of his career is now firmly closed.
The former Springboks flyhalf fractured his right ankle and will be out for a minimum of 12 weeks just months after his controversial return to French rugby at Montpellier.
The boot of Benjamin Urdapilleta made the difference as Castres Olympique beat Montpellier 29-13 to claim a surprise Top 14 title on Saturday.
It has come down to the last two. The Top 14 season, which kicked off on Aug. 26 last year, has at last reached the final as Montpellier and Castres meet on Saturday in front of a crowd of about 80,000 at Stade de France for the Bouclier de Brennus.
Leinster and Saracens fans were smiling this weekend as domestic honours were secured, while Castres set up a mouthwatering Top 14 final in Paris next weekend.
James Harrington runs the rule over the Aviva Premiership and PRO14 finals, plus the Top 14 semifinals, to predict which player will shine brightest, who will have an afternoon to forget and a whole lot more.
Police conducted raids at the French rugby federation headquarters on Tuesday amid an investigation into an alleged conflict of interest involving federation president Bernard Laporte.
Leinster completed a clean sweep of Pool 3 with a 23-14 triumph at Montpellier to guarantee top seeding for the European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-finals.
Olly Woodburn scored two tries as Exeter kept their European Champions Cup hopes alive with a crushing 41-10 bonus-point win over Montpellier at Sandy Park.
Montpellier kept themselves in the hunt for the European Champions Cup quarterfinals by making it back-to-back victories over Glasgow with a bonus-point 36-26 win in France.
Glasgow hooker George Turner faces further punishment for the yellow card which Scotstoun coach Dave Rennie called "dumb" and blamed for wrecking his side's European hopes.
The Champions Cup returns this weekend. Keep abreast of all the team news ahead of a mouthwatering round of action.
European club rugby is back with another stacked fixture list. ESPN's experts predict which teams are set for a big weekend, which players will shine and where your attention should be trained across the two competitions.
Exeter Chiefs made it back-to-back Champions Cup wins as they claimed a famous 27-24 victory away to French giants Montpellier.
European club rugby is back for the second weekend in a row with another stacked fixture list. ESPN's experts predict which teams are set for a big weekend, which players will shine and where your attention should be trained across the two competitions.
Joey Carbery stepped up in the absence of Johnny Sexton as Leinster started their Champions Cup campaign with an impressive 24-17 win over French powerhouse Montpellier at the RDS in Dublin.
Former Toulon centre Tom May casts his eye over rounds three and four of the Top 14 to pick out some of the overseas players who made their mark -- and you might be surprised to learn that a few have ended up in France.
Anthony Tuitavake was sent off as Racing 92 lost 23-19 at Agen in the Top 14.
France's sports minister has ordered an investigation into allegations of favouritism against FFR president Bernard Laporte that have now prompted six members of union's influential appeals board to resign and rocked the corridors of French rugby power.
With Top 14 rugby kicking off on Saturday, we look at every club in France's elite division and try to predict where they will end up next June.
Montpellier have resigned Northampton Saints and France back-row Louis Picamoles, with the Aviva Premiership club confirming his departure back to his first Top 14 club.
Montpellier have released six players from their contracts, including former Springbok No. 8 Pierre Spies.
