South African Rugby World Cup winner Malcolm Marx joined Japanese Top League side Kubota Spears after he opted to cancel his contract with the Emirates Lions earlier this year.
Marx was one of five Lions members who capitalized on South Africa’s Industry Salary Plan in May and canceled their contracts.
As part of the ISP, South Africa’s professional rugby players were given a 21-day period in which to request contract termination and leave their franchises and provinces immediately.
The others to depart from the Johannesburg-based side were lock Ruan Vermaak, utility back Tyrone Green, fly-half Shaun Reynolds and coach Neil de Bruin.
Marx joins a contingent of South Africans at the Japanese club which is managed by former Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke. Other South African players at the club are: Ruan Botha, David Bulbring and Gerhard van den Heever. Duane Vermeulen, a 2019 World Cup winner, also played for the club.
Marx had a short stint with NTT Communications Shining Arcs last season before the campaign was abruptly ended by the COVID-19 pandemic. He scored five tries in six games for the team.
