From Rugby Royalty to Tech Trailblazer: André Joubert’s Second Act After the Springboks

He was once the calmest man on the pitch – gliding across turf like a luxury car, even with a broken hand in a World Cup final. Today, André Joubert’s pace hasn’t slowed – it’s just shifted from try-lines to tech lines.

For South Africans who lived through the euphoria of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, André Joubert remains an icon of composure, talent, and tenacity. But long after he hung up his boots, the man known as “The Rolls-Royce of Fullbacks” has continued to win – this time in the world of business.

Now based in Durban, Joubert is the co-founder and owner of 3C Technology, a national telecoms and office automation company with more than 70 service centres across South Africa. His journey from green and gold jerseys to green-lit boardrooms is a story of foresight, grit, and the wisdom of preparing for life beyond sport.

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Ladysmith Roots, World Cup Heights

Born in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, on 15 April 1964, André Johan Joubert was never one to rest on natural talent alone. After matriculating in 1981, he pursued a BCom degree at the University of the Free State, where rugby and responsibility walked side by side. He played 93 Currie Cup matches for Free State and served two years in compulsory military training – all before he moved to Durban and joined the Springboks.

His rugby résumé reads like a highlight reel:

• 34 caps for South Africa

• 115 test points

• Part of the 1995 World Cup-winning team – despite a broken hand

• Captain of the SA Sevens team in 1992

• Represented Barbarians and World XV squads

• Nearly 100 Currie Cup matches for the Sharks

But even as Joubert lived the dream on the pitch, off the field he was quietly planning his next play.

Betting on Himself Before the Whistle Blew

In the early 1990s, rugby in South Africa was still transitioning from amateur to professional. For many players, matches were squeezed between day jobs and family commitments. Joubert, who worked in banking for four years, quickly realised that long hours behind a desk weren’t sustainable alongside elite-level rugby.

So, in 1996 – just a year after lifting the Webb Ellis Cup – he co-founded a business called KZN Konica Minolta, which initially serviced and distributed printing tech. He partnered with businessman Steve Cooper, and together they laid the groundwork for what would eventually become 3C Technology.

“It was a backup plan,” Joubert later explained in an interview, “but it turned out to be the best decision I could’ve made.”

Image 1: LinkedIn/Andre Joubert

From Printers to PBX and Beyond

As South Africa modernised, so did the business. What started as a printer distributor is now a full-fledged ICT and office automation company offering voice solutions, IP PBX, WAN services, conferencing, and hosting.

Today, 3C Technology partners with tech giants like Microsoft, Dell, HP, and Yealink, serving 10,000+ users and supported by 412 engineers across the country.

It’s not just a side hustle. It’s an empire – quietly built, proudly South African, and steered by a man who knew the value of planning ahead.

What the Public Still Loves About Joubert

Despite being out of the game for over two decades, Joubert’s legacy is far from faded. Rugby fans still refer to his “effortless running style” and “ice-cool nerves.” YouTube tributes call him “safe as a rock” under the high ball with a “highly educated left boot.”

And he’s still giving back. Over the years, he’s helped raise money for charities through golf tournaments, toy drives, and jersey auctions. A passionate golfer, Joubert proudly boasts six hole-in-ones – a stat that has rugby mates teasingly wondering if he was always meant for green fairways instead of green jerseys.

More Than a Fullback. More Than a Businessman.

Joubert’s story is more than a sporting biography – it’s a blueprint. In a world where so many athletes face uncertain futures after retirement, his journey is a masterclass in thinking beyond the glory days.

He didn’t wait for the whistle to blow before building his second life. And in doing so, André Joubert proved that you can be the Rolls-Royce of rugby – and of reinvention.

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Source: MyBroadband

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