10-year Ban Sticks For Former Wp Rugby Union President

The South African Rugby Union SARU has made it official: former Western Province Rugby boss Zelt Marais won't be coming back to the sport anytime soon, Cape town Etc reports.

After a drawn-out appeal process and mounting speculation, an independent panel backed the original ruling that slapped Marais with a 10-year ban for misconduct. His offence? A series of controversial and defiant public statements aimed at SA Rugby leadership in both 2022 and 2024, which SARU says violated its strict code of conduct.

The detailed findings - spanning over 60 pages - paint a damning picture. Not only did the panel describe the transgressions as severe and repeated, but it also highlighted Marais 'total lack of remorse' and his refusal to apologise or acknowledge wrongdoing. His insistence that he was merely 'telling the truth' didn't win over the adjudicators, who felt he showed no signs of changing his combative approach without serious consequences.

The ban means Marais is prohibited from holding any role in rugby - whether in SARU or any other affiliated body - until at least October 2034. Despite being a senior figure who once held one of the most powerful positions in Western Cape rugby, his repeated disregard for SARU's code led to what now stands as one of the sport's longest disciplinary bans in the country.

The ruling is a strong message from SARU as it continues efforts to rebuild trust and unity following years of internal battles at provincial and national levels.