Jurie Roux, the senior director of finances and asset management at Stellenbosch University, was named the new chief executive of the South African Rugby Union (SARU) at a meeting of the organisation’s General Council on Friday. Roux’s appointment is expected to be confirmed shortly following the conclusion of contract negotiations.
The General Council accepted the recommendation of an independent interview panel.
Sport24
Roux, 39, has considerable experience of rugby administration and is currently vice-president of the Western Province Rugby Union, a director of the board of Western Province Rugby (Pty) Ltd, chairperson of the Stellenbosch University Rugby Football Club and chairperson of the Varsity Cup (Pty) Ltd. He is a former Maties fullback.
“An exhaustive process of assessments and interviews was undertaken to identify a high-calibre short list of five from an original list of 84 applicants,” said SARU president Oregan Hoskins.
“To preserve the integrity of the process the name of the preferred candidate was known only to the independent interview panel until today’s General Council.
“All of the candidates were subject to a rigorous set of interviews and assessments to identify the best individual. We cast the net wide to ensure we found a CEO with the necessary skills to not only lead a sporting organisation but also a large scale and successful business.
“Jurie has a wealth of experience in rugby as well as proven business acumen and we’re looking forward to his taking operational leadership of the organisation and completing the process of restructuring following the dissolving of SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd into Saru.
“We expect to tie-up the contractual details shortly after which the appointment will be confirmed,” said Hoskins.
Roux said, “I regard this role as the pinnacle for any professional involved in South African sport. It has major challenges but also many stimulating opportunities.”
Roux is expected to take up the position on September 1.
The shortlist of 5 apparently was:
Harold Verster – Cheetahs
Barend van Graan – Bulls
Andre Watson – Ex International Referee
Andy Marinos – Acting CEO
Jurie Roux – WP
Well, from first glance, immediately cut out Andy Marinos and Harold Verster, the 2 weakest ID Ten T’s, and we’re left with 3…. don’t know what Rugby Administration credentials Andre Watson has other than leading a bunch of Referees and doing a bit at the Lions…. so cut him out too… and you’re left with only 2.
So, a logical choice between Barend and this chap, who I hardly know….
Let’s see how he goes and whether he has some backbone!
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and the many controversies surrounding him will be very high on the ‘to do’ list of new South African Rugby Union Chief Executive Jurie Roux.
SARU President Oregan Hoskins admitted that the union’s tarnished image, following a series of public spats with the IRB and other unions, along with issues surrounding the Bok coach, will fall within the ambit of Roux.
Hoskins said Roux will be in charge of “everything”.
That includes the underfire Bok coach, De Villiers, who is in hot water with SANZAR over his recent media outbursts.
“The new CEO doesn’t have a specific delegation of duties,” Hoskins said, adding: “He is in charge of everything.
“There isn’t an issue he will not be in charge of.
“He has to take ownership of every single issue in South African rugby and the national coach is certainly one of is duties as well.”
Although Hoskins declined to comment on the pending disciplinary action against the national coach, because it is “sub judice”, he admitted they will afford he Bok coach all the help he needs to move forward.
Asked about SA rugby’s poor image abroad, Hoskins said there are many positives as well.
In the past 12 months SARU, and the national team, were fined a substantial amount by the IRB over their armband protest in 2009; they fell foul of Premier Rugby, who reported them to the IRB over the Butch James saga; several senior players have been banned for foul play in recent weeks and now the Bok coach is facing disciplinary action.
Hoskins admitted it is of concern and it will be addressed by Roux.
“I would think he would regard that as one of his top priorities
So is the yellow belly Hoskins palming off all responsibility onto the new Ceo. What a tit.
Last week I expressed concern at the evident lack of corporate strategic enterprise and leadership which I believe is at the root of South African Rugby’s present malaise. It seems that my instinct served me well and we now have a new CEO. However, the predominantly financial profile of Jurie Roux is somewhat perturbing and although I don’t know anything about his resume, I trust that the “operational”and “strategic” challenges and issues on Roux’s “to do list” will be within his ambit of expertise and ability as a strategic thinker. In 25 years of involvement in the hurly burly of the no nonsense business world, I have not encountered one single strategic and operational thinker among the “custodians of assets.” To the contrary their instinct and training compels them to curtail enterprise and boldness – it absorbs resources, particularly money. Time will tell where his gifts lie.
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