SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux has thrown his support behind Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, following the latter’s release of a heartfelt video in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Kolisi added his voice to the conversation around the movement with a video post on his social media accounts. He highlighted his own experiences of injustice, suppression and exclusion – from just as a kid in a township, through to his schooling at Grey High and up to his early days in the Springbok squad.

The emotion-filled video, in which Kolisi also stated that he felt devalued and that his life didn’t matter, went viral with people from all over the world lauding him for speaking out and sharing his truth.

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When asked during a media briefing via a digital news conference on Tuesday for SA Rugby’s view on the matter, Roux said Kolisi is a self-made man who have the right to express himself without being dictated to.

‘Siya is his own person. He got himself in the position he is in today,’ Roux said. ‘He led us to a World Cup. It’s not for me or anyone else in SA Rugby to tell him what to say in any forum.

‘He has enough leadership qualities and respect from us to tell his own story. I’m never going to tell Siya what he must say. He should express his own opinion and he did. I understand by doing that he will have some people’s support and won’t have the support of others. But that is the case in all situations.’

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Photo: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images