SA Rugby confirms exit of CEO Jurie Roux after 12 years

SA Rugby and its former CEO, Jurie Roux, parted ways at the end of 2022 after 12 years, according to a statement released by the governing body on Friday.

Roux's role at SA Rugby became untenable after he lost an appeal against a 2020 arbitration ruling that ordered him to pay back misallocated funds – in the region of R37 million – from Stellenbosch University during his time with the institution's finance department.

A court arbitrator found that the money was missing and had been misappropriated from the accounts of the Stellenbosch University to the university's rugby club (the world's biggest rugby club in terms of membership) during Roux's time at the university's accounts department.

He has been ordered to repay the misallocated funds to his former employer but is now fighting that ruling in the Western Cape High Court.

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander confirmed that a decision had been amicably reached to part ways with Roux amid specualtion over his future.

“Jurie Roux has consistently emphasised his loyalty to the organisation and his desire to do what is in its best interests,” said Alexander in the statement.

“I have never doubted Jurie’s commitment to SA Rugby and this decision was not an easy one for anyone who has worked closely with Jurie for more than a decade – both here and overseas.

“Jurie was a key driver along with the President and the Executive Council in the development of SA Rugby’s Strategic Transformation Plan 2030 – which is already paying handsome dividends on and off the field – and a key contributor to South African rugby’s journey to a private equity partnership.

“Along with the rugby leadership, Jurie has worked consistently on ways to meet new demands and changing trends in entertainment, sport, and rugby, which includes negotiations with an equity partner to fast-track our objectives to further grow our game financially."

It was further confirmed that Roux would continue in his duties on a contractual basis "to complete the implementation of the mooted equity transaction, as well as the handover to his successor, who will be appointed once the equity negotiations are finalised."

Alexander added: “Jurie has delivered top-class service to the organisation throughout his tenure despite the outside pressures on him in recent times. It requires a special skillset to lead an organisation such as ours and he will be hard to replace. It greatly pains me to be making this announcement.

“As an organisation, we wish him well for the future and on behalf of everyone involved in the game, including our rugby-loving supporters and partners, I want to sincerely thank Jurie for his tireless work and commitment.

"He might be leaving rugby now, but we know he will find success as he did in rugby in whatever he turns his hand to.”

SA Rugby further noted that the process to find a successor would be confirmed in due course, while an interim CEO would be appointed "before the end of the month [January]."