Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx will leave Japanese club Kubota Spears when his contract ends after the 2026-27 season. The club said on Friday that the World Player of the Year will return to South Africa.
Marx, 32, said family reasons led to his choice. He signed a two-year contract extension in 2025 and will play out the final year of that deal, RugbyJP reported.
“Due to family circumstances, I have made the difficult decision not to renew my contract beyond the 2026-27 season and to return to South Africa,” Marx said.
The club confirmed that the coming campaign will be his last with the team. “This will be the final season in which fans will be able to see Marx playing in Japan,” the club statement read.
Kubota general manager Hironori Maekawa said the two sides spoke many times about the player’s future. He said they agreed to part ways when the contract ends.
“We respect Malcolm’s desire to spend more time with his family moving forward, having competed at the highest level of world rugby for many years,” Maekawa said.
Maekawa, a former Kubota player, also praised the hooker’s work off the field. He said Marx’s team-first attitude, care for his teammates and high standards have left a lasting mark on the club.
“His achievement of winning the World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year award as a member of the Spears is also a tremendous source of pride for the club and the Orange Army,” he said.
Marx thanked the club and its supporters for the way they welcomed his family. “My time with the Spears has been an invaluable experience for both me and my family, and one that we will always look back on fondly,” he said.
He said he would keep working hard until he leaves. “My focus is now fully on the upcoming season, and I will continue to give everything I have for the team,” Marx said.
Marx joined the Funabashi-based club in 2021 from NTT Shining Arcs, now called Urayasu D-Rocks. He has scored 41 tries in 68 appearances for the team, which is coached by Frans Ludeke.
Kubota won the League One title in 2023 and lost the final in both 2025 and 2026. Marx is currently away on international duty with the Springboks ahead of the Nations Championship.
The club statement did not name his next team. RugbyJP reported that Johan Ackermann’s Bulls are among his possible destinations. The Bulls have also brought home Kwagga Smith from Shizuoka Blue Revs, according to the report.
Kubota will start its new season at home to Shizuoka Blue Revs on Sunday 13 December.
Source: this article is based on reporting by RugbyJP. Image: RugbyJP. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.