Four Springboks, including Player of the Season Kwagga Smith, were included in the Best Fifteen of Japan’s League One.
The 2023 edition of Japan’s League One concluded over the weekend as Kubota Spears beat the Wild Knights in the final to claim their first league title.
Following their title win, the Spears contributed four players to the Best Fifteen of the season, including Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx and Wallabies flyhalf Bernard Foley.
Marx is one of four Springboks to make the team, as he was joined by loose forwards Smith (Blue Revs) and Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) and scrumhalf Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles).
Smith also scooped the Player of the Season award, for his sensational form while captaining the Blue Revs out of a relegation battle.
Former Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke was named as the Coach of the Season, after guiding Kubota Spears to the title.
?? 4️⃣ Springboks named in the Japan Rugby League One Best XV ??
Former Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke was named Coach of the Season after guiding Kubota Spears to their first title ?#SaffasAbroad pic.twitter.com/8yOZ4KbU3A
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) May 22, 2023
Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix