Back in 2022 it was confirmed that Jurie Roux was set to finally vacate his position as SA Rugby CEO.
In many ways it came at a time when the general public consensus was that he had already overstayed his ‘welcome’ after he was ordered to pay back R37 million to Stellenbosch University for the misallocation of funds.
Roux’s six-year legal battle with the university finally came to an end after he failed in his bid to overturn the guilty verdict in the case related to the misappropriation of millions of rand during his tenure in the finance department of Stellenbosch’s Maties between 2002 and 2010.
Roux was found guilty of manipulating the electronic accounting system to channel millions of unbudgeted university funds to the Maties rugby club.
Roux – who was Stellenbosch’s Financial Director and Chairman of the Maties Rugby Club before taking up his position at SA Rugby – has attempted to appeal the ruling to pay back R37 million, along with interest, but so far none of these were successful.
The only option left to Roux would be to take the matter to the Constitutional Court, but legal costs have also undoubtedly racked up as part of the repayment judgement.
The ongoing saga had dragged on throughout 2022, with questions remaining over Roux’s future at a time when his contract as CEO was supposed to only come to an end after the 2023 World Cup in France.
So where is former SA Rugby boss Jurie Roux now?
After Roux finally made his departure from the position, Rian Oberholzer stepped into the post, having actually held the position of managing director of the old SA Rugby Football Rugby Union in the late 1990s.
Roux has been fighting the ongoing legal battle, but there have also been red flags raised by the fact that he still has an association with SA Rugby.
Roux has remained a ‘consultant’ on SARU’s books, and served in an advisory capacity as SA Rugby sought to engage, and execute a deal with an equity partner, which has also repeatedly failed to come to fruition.
It’s also been reported that Roux is in line to retain a consultancy role for the so-called ‘Greatest Rugby Rivalry’ series between the Springboks and the All Blacks that is planned for 2026.
The concept is expected to see New Zealand tour South Africa to play eight matches – including three Tests, four games against URC teams and one match against SA “A”.
Such a tour is expected to be a big financial windfall for SA Rugby, and although it remains unclear what role Roux would play exactly, he could form part of the commercial consultancy.
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