Bulls confirm arrival of Kubota’s Malcolm Marx on long-term deal

URC runners-up the Bulls have confirmed the signing of Kubota Spears hooker and World Player of The Year Malcolm Marx on a long-term deal from July 2027.

Double World Cup winner Marx, whose anticipated exit at the end of his contract was announced by his Japanese club last week, will follow former Shizuoka Blue Revs captain Kwagga Smith in moving from League One to the Pretoria-based side.

© JRLO

The Springboks star will join the Bulls next summer and is the latest member of Rassie Erasmus’ squad to decide to move home with one eye on next year’s World Cup in Australia as the back-to-back winners chase an unprecedented ‘three-peat’.

Injured full-back Cheslin Kolbe recently cut short his time with Suntory Sungoliath to return to the Stormers while news broke today that Kintetsu Liners fly-half Manie Libbok will head back to the Sharks in 2027.

Former Lions hooker Marx spent a season with the Shining Arcs (now Urayasu D-Rocks) initially in 2020 before joining Frans Ludeke’s Kubota in 2021 where he has become one of the most celebrated players in the club’s history.

The 2023 League One winner and two-time runner-up is excited to return to his homeland next year.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join such a historic and respected club as the Vodacom Bulls next season,” said Marx.

“It is an exciting new chapter for me, and I look forward to reconnecting and working alongside former teammates and coaches. I am eager to contribute wherever I can, bring and play my part in helping the Bulls achieve their goals and ambitions. I look forward to the journey ahead and to being part of this special club.”

Head coach Johan Ackermann said: “He’s one of the hardest workers I coached, someone with great integrity too. He excelled and has stayed humble, always putting his team first.

“I have so much respect for him, grateful that his rugby journey has come full circle with me. I am most proud of the man and the person and the husband and son he is for his family.”

Edgar Rathbone, CEO of the Blue Bulls Company, said: “Malcolm is one of the best players in the world, and he has been a hero to many South Africans. To bring a player of his quality to the Vodacom Bulls is a huge moment for our supporters and for rugby in the region.

Kubota will open their 2026-2027 campaign at home to Shizuoka Blue Revs on Sunday 13 December.