Malcolm Marx joins Japanese outfit Kubota Spears

Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx has completed a move to Japanese outfit Kubota Spears.

The 26-year-old has been without a team since opting out of his Lions contract earlier in the year.

Malcolm Marx joins Kubota Spears 

He returns to the country where he lifted the Webb-Ellis cup in November for a second stint in the Top League, having represented the NTT Communications Shining Arcs in his previous spell there.

“First of all, I would like to thank Kubota and Kubota Spears for giving me the opportunity to be part of the team,” Marx is quoted by the club’s website. “It is a great honour to be part of a proud organisation like Kubota. I really enjoyed my time in Japan. I respect and respect Japanese people and Japanese culture and I am happy to be back here in Japan. Becoming a member of Kubota Spears, I’m really looking forward to it, and I hope Kubota Spears can help me in and out of the field to achieve my goals.”

Malcolm Marx

NTTコム退団の世界一HOマークスはクボタに移籍　「日本に戻って来られることを嬉しく思う」https://t.co/U55iWl4e4w#ラグビー #クボタスピアーズ #kubotaspears #トップリーグ pic.twitter.com/7RpnDCByFR

— ラグビーリパブリック (@RUGBY_REPUBLIC) August 19, 2020

The Saffer connection

Marx joins several compatriots at the Kubota Spears, including head coach Frans Ludeke, who has had stints at the Lions and the Bulls.

Other South Africans at the club include former Sharks lock Ruan Botha and ex-Bulls winger Gerhaard van der Heever, who has also turned out for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby.

Another Springbok who has had a spell with the Spears is loose forward Duane Vermeulen, who was named man of the match in the Rugby World Cup final win against England in Tokyo.

Marx made his Springboks debut during the 2016 Rugby Championship and has gone on to earn 32 caps in the green and gold, crossing the whitewash five times.