From the Scrum to the Boardroom: Springbok Legend Schalk Brits’ New Game Plan

The image is iconic: Schalk Brits, the dynamic hooker, holding the Webb Ellis Cup aloft after the Springboks’ 2019 World Cup victory in Japan. It was the perfect final chapter to a remarkable 20-year career. But for Brits, it was merely the end of the first half. The whistle had blown, and a new, entirely different game was about to begin.

Today, you won’t find Brits on the pitch. Instead, you’ll find him in the offices of Investec, one of South Africa’s leading financial institutions, where he has built a second act as a Wealth Manager and, more recently, as the Sector Lead for Investec Sports.

A Dual Career from the Start

What many fans might not know is that Brits never put all his eggs in one basket. Even while being scouted at 17 and rising through the rugby ranks, he was diligently studying for a degree in Management Accountancy at Stellenbosch University. As he won Premiership titles with Saracens and earned his 15 Springbok caps, he was simultaneously building a foundation in finance.

This wasn’t a hobby. It was a strategic play. After his final, fairytale retirement in 2019, he didn’t face the uncertain void that traps so many athletes. He seamlessly transitioned into roles at Remgro and Southern Right Capital before taking a sabbatical to find his deeper purposehis “WHY.”

The New Mission: Securing Athletes’ Futures

That purpose became clear at Investec, where he joined in April 2024. In his role, he does more than manage wealth; he helps clients solve complex problems and reach their goals, applying the same lessons in leadership and teamwork he learned in the locker room.

His mission became even more focused in July 2025 when he took on the role of head of Investec Sports. Here, he tackles a sobering statistic head-on: two-thirds of professional athletes face financial distress within five years of retirement.

Brits understands this world intimately. He knows the short earning window, the pressure, and the lack of financial guidance that can plague even the most celebrated careers. His new role is to use his 20-year network and deep insider’s knowledge to provide the financial guidance and services that athletes need to secure their long-term futures.

Joining a League of Extraordinary Former Boks

Brits is part of a growing and impressive trend of Springboks who have successfully pivoted to business. He stands alongside figures like:

• John Smit, the 2007 World Cup-winning captain, who is now CEO of security company SSG.

• Bryan Habana, the record try-scorer, who is a co-founder of the fintech company Paymenow.

• Bob Skinstad, another 2007 winner, who has built a successful business career across multiple continents.

Even current players like Ox Nche and Malcolm Marx are building brands beyond the field.

For Schalk Brits, the goalposts have simply moved. The field is now the financial world, the team is his clients and the athletes he advises, and the trophy is a secure and prosperous future. He proved he could master one high-stakes profession; now, he’s determined to master another, all while helping his fellow athletes win the most important game of allthe game of life after sport.

{Source: IOL}

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