JRLO Congratulates Malcolm Marx – 2025 Men’s 15s World Player of the Year

Malcolm Marx, who plays his club rugby in the JRLO with Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay, was named the 2025 Men’s 15s World Rugby Player of the Year, becoming one of several players who have won the prestigious award and competed in Japanese rugby.

In the 24 occasions it has been awarded, players who played for Japanese clubs at some stage of their careers have received the selection panel’s endorsement 13 times.

Marx is one of four World Rugby Players of the Year who will appear in League One in the upcoming season; the others being South African Pieter-Steph du Toit, and the New Zealand pair of Brodie Retallick and Ardie Savea.

The Springbok hooker scored 11 tries in 19 appearances for the Spears last season, which took his overall career tally for the club to 35 from 51 matches since he arrived in the country for the final Top League.

League One chairman Genichi Tamatsuka said, “Malcolm illustrates all that our league stands for, in terms of exciting and entertaining the fans, providing excellence on the field, while passing on the benefits of his experience, and the expertise that he has developed, to the Japanese players within the Spears team. We congratulate him on his achievement and look forward to his return for the upcoming season.”

Marx is the third player in a row to win the award in a season when they played in League One, with Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ardie Savea also doing so.

Photo Credit – SARU

Japan Rugby League One 2025-2026

The fifth edition of League One kicks off on December 13, 2026, when Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo host Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath. Marx’s side, the Spears, will visit last year’s third-place getter, Kobe, on the same day.

This season will feature 50 test-capped foreign players competing in the JRLO’s three divisions, including 11 from the world champions, South Africa.

Mr Tamatsuka commented, “It is very pleasing to have so many of the game’s biggest stars coming to Japan after their international commitments.

Their ongoing excellence for their nations reflects the great preparation for test rugby, both physically and mentally, that they receive from playing in our League, due to its competitive nature, but also the excellent support in their and their families’ wellbeing they receive from club staff.

I congratulate all of our clubs, but particularly Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay in this instance, for the wonderful environment they provide that allows the players to thrive, while helping to raise the overall competitive standard each year.”

The players who have featured in the Japan club game and who have won the World Rugby Player of the Year are:

• 2004: Schalk Burger (South Africa and Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath)
• 2005: 2012, 2015: Dan Carter (New Zealand and Kobelco Kobe Steelers)
• 2008: Shane Williams (Wales and Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars)
• 2013: Kieran Read (New Zealand and Toyota Verblitz)
• 2014: Brodie Retallick (New Zealand and Kobelco Kobe Steelers)
• 2016, 2017: Beauden Barrett (New Zealand, Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath and Toyota Verblitz)
• 2023: Ardie Savea (New Zealand and Kobelco Kobe Steelers)
• 2019, 2024: Pieter Steph du Toit (South Africa and Toyota Verblitz)
• 2025: Malcolm Marx (South Africa and Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay)

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