Rugby player Bees Roux has been axed by the Blue Bulls for training with the Pumas during his culpable homicide trial for killing metro police officer Johannes Mogale, Beeld newspaper reported on Thursday.
A disciplinary hearing found that he had trained with the Pumas rugby team without permission from the Blue Bulls during his culpable homicide trial for killing a metro police officer.
He was discharged with immediate effect.
“The employee [Roux] put his own interests ahead of the employer’s [Blue Bulls] interests,” said David Short, chairperson of the disciplinary hearing.
Roux had testified at the hearing that he was under the impression he had permission to train with the Pumas.
Beeld said the Blue Bulls had not brought a charge against Roux in connection with him killing Tshwane metro police officer Johannes Mogale last August.
Roux was convicted of culpable homicide last month.
According to a plea bargain with the state, he received a five-year suspended sentence and had to pay Mogale’s family R750 000.
Shortly after his conviction, his agent, James Adams, told Rapport newspaper that Roux was asking “every player, friend and family member” to contribute money.
The newspaper said he did not have the cash to make the payment.
Adams said Roux’s legal costs were around R300 000 and that his girlfriend had taken out a second bond on her house.
At the time of his bail application, Roux said that the Bulls paid him R800 000 per year.
He signed a two-year contract with the Bulls at the end of the 2009 season and the contract was up for renewal at the end of October. — Sapa