SA Rugby re-elects Mark Alexander as president, but how long will Jurie Roux partnership last?

Whether that arrangement stays in place is highly debatable, but SA Rugby's leadership axis of Mark Alexander and Jurie Roux will remain in place for now after the former secured re-election as president at the federation's annual general meeting on Friday.

Alexander, who replaced Oregan Hoskins in October 2016, was widely expected to keep his position as he enjoys substantial support from the so-called smaller unions and also has the respect of the "Top 7" franchise unions for his forthright manner and political savvy.

He was, relatively surprisingly, opposed by Mbulelo Gidane, the acting vice-president of the embattled Eastern Province Rugby Union, who had been nominated by his constituents.

But Gidane, who had to withstand severe pressure from a "syndicate" of now arrested EPRU administrators that attempted to defraud the union back in 2020, didn't enjoy any tangible support outside of his jurisdiction.

Alexander will be serving another four-year term.

He and his fellow members of SA Rugby's executive council are, however, under increasing pressure to act on CEO Roux, who late last year lost his arbitration proceedings against Stellenbosch University and has launched an appeal in the Western Cape High Court against bill of R37 million for unauthorised expenditure during his time as Maties rugby chair.

The federation appointed a sub-committee to provide detailed feedback on the legal implications of it sanctioning Roux for something that didn't occur on its watch.

It's understood that last week's meeting on the matter resolved that the sub-committee would have to re-convene and provide even further clarity.

                                                                            Jurie Roux. (Gallo Images)

Furthermore, Roux's