Francois Pienaar

The film "Invictus" is based on Nelson Mandela’s pursuit to unite racially divided South Africa with the Rugby World Cup, enlisting François Pienaar to spearhead the effort. Morgan Freeman stars as President Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon as François, both earning Academy Award nominations for their roles.

François Pienaar, with twenty-nine international caps to his name, reached the pinnacle of rugby union: he captained his country, South Africa, to World Cup victory in 1995 on home turf and was presented the Webb Ellis Trophy by Nelson Mandela. In 1993, he was appointed captain on his international debut, against France. Pienaar is considered one of the most celebrated figures in South Africa, having been named the country’s “Newsmaker of the Year.” His leadership transcended the boundaries of sports, playing a significant role in unifying the nation.

After retiring from professional rugby, Pienaar became player-coach of the north London club Saracens. Eventually, he took over as CEO until he stepped down, allowing for new leadership amid challenging times for the club. His post-rugby career also included roles as CEO and later as Provincial Chairman of First National Bank in the Western Cape until 2009. Following this, he founded Advent Sport Entertainment and Media (Pty) Ltd and pursued various endeavors including the marketing campaign for the Indian Premier League in South Africa.

Besides his professional pursuits, Pienaar is deeply committed to philanthropy. He founded the Make A Difference (MAD) charitable organization, which focuses on education and development for underprivileged youth. He has also been involved in charity work with organizations such as Sargent Cancer Care for Children, CHOC, and the Reach for a Dream Foundation. In recognition of his contributions, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Hertfordshire in 2000.

Today, Pienaar continues to be a renowned figure in public speaking, especially on topics like leadership, motivation, and teamwork, reflecting his journey and experiences on and off the field. He authored the autobiography "Rainbow Warrior" in 1999, sharing insights into his life and the transformative power of sports. François Pienaar currently resides in Cape Town, South Africa, with his family. He remains an emblematic figure in not only rugby but also in representing the potential for sports to influence societal change.