27 - 10

Foley and four Springboks named in Japan league's team of the year

23 May 2023

(Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)

Four Springboks players and Wallabies No10 Bernard Foley have been selected on the Japan league’s team of the year following last weekend’s conclusion of the 2023 season. Hooker Malcolm Marx finished the campaign as a league champion following Kubota Spears’ 17-15 win over Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights and the South African front-rower has now been named in an end-of-season best XV.

Keeping him good company are two fellow Springboks forwards, back-rowers Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kwagga Smith, while scrum-half Faf de Klerk, who finished his season with Yokohama Canon Eagles with a 26-20 win over Tokyo Sungoliath in the third-place play-off, was named the stand-out No9 in his first season in Japan since joining from Sale in England.

Elsewhere, Wallabies out-half Foley got the nod as the best No10 following his exploits as a Spears’ teammate of Marx.

What Leinster ‘bottling’ the Champions Cup final means for New Zealand rugby | The Breakdown

Japan Top League team of the season 2023:
1. Keita Inagaki (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights)
2. Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears Funabashi/Tokyo Bay)
3. Opeti Helu (Kubota Spears Funabashi/Tokyo Bay)
4. Warner Dearns (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo)
5. Harry Hockings (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath)
6. Kazuki Himeno (Toyota Verblitz)
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz)
8. Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs)
9. Faf de Klerk (Yokohama Canon Eagles)
10. Bernard Foley (Kubota Spears Funabashi/Tokyo Bay)
11. Haruto Kida (Kubota Spears Funabashi/Tokyo Bay)
12. Dylan Riley (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights)
13. Tomoki Osada (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights)
14. Seiya Ozaki (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath)
15. Ryuji Noguchi (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights)

???NTT JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE 2022-23 AWARDS ?????????????
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????HC????????????????
????????????????????????… pic.twitter.com/m1KkchWnMi
— JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE??????? (@LeagueOne_JP) May 22, 2023

Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo vs Kubota Spears | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 Final | Full Match Replay

Saitama Wild Knights vs Kobe Steelers | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 Bronze Final | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 42 | Investec Champions Cup Final Review

Spain's Incredible Rugby Sevens Journey to the World Championship Final | HSBC SVNS Embedded | Episode 14

Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

Comments

0 Comments

Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Latest Features

LONG READ

Tom Hooper: Brumbies’ ‘Land Cruiser in low gear’ revs up for Hurricanes

The versatile ACT forward talks Hurricanes, Wallabies, Scott Fardy and his move to 'Exeter Brumbies'.

LONG READ

'We endure, we fight to survive - that's who we are': Welcome to the Basque Country

A unique blend of national pride and sporting passion, the Basque Country remains one of rugby's most special frontiers.

LONG READ

Why the Gallagher Premiership is setting the gold standard in club rugby

With high ball-in-play time and success stories at Test level, England's top flight delivers an excellent product - despite its financial pitfalls.

Comments on RugbyPass

GP 18 minutes ago

All Blacks trio return for Crusaders' Qualifying Final against Reds

So good to see Fletcher Newell, David Havili and especially Will Jordan back for the Crusaders to face the Reds in the Quarter Final. This is a very good side and some good players have not made the bench. Great bench, likes of James O’Connor, Johnny McNicoll, Cullen Grace others there. Crusaders “Rookie” of the Year, Kyle Preston there. Some big discussions around the selectors table , given the options.

1 Go to comments

Koro Teeps 22 minutes ago

‘Money is pouring into the All Blacks, yet the more they spend, the less return they get’

Well shift workers and factory workers all do. Guys on night shift can’t get to training and guys working weekends can’t play. It’s caused a massive drop in player numbers for last 20 years.

14 Go to comments

BH 1 hour ago

Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson signs on for another two years

Hasn’t used them!? You must not have watched any of the Chiefs games this year. Jacobson has smashed the Blues and Crusaders players 2 times each this year, amongst being a standout in every other game he’s played.

6 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 4 hours ago

'It's crazy what you hear on that mic': Jacques Nienaber on 'wink-gate'

Pretty sure he split the posts. Then reminded the opposition physio that he's an insult to humanity.

Munster lost. Jack won.

25 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 4 hours ago

'It's crazy what you hear on that mic': Jacques Nienaber on 'wink-gate'

I'd say friendly banter, sledging or a bit of craic is part of combat sport.

Rolling around like a used tampon for 5 mins to prevent an opponent taking their kick, ain't sledging.

25 Go to comments

Cantab 4 hours ago

Tom Hooper: Brumbies’ ‘Land Cruiser in low gear’ revs up for Hurricanes

Brumbies & Hurricanes will both progress unless either of the top 2 suffer a shock loss to either the Blues or the Reds in which case bye bye to the loser. Crusaders should comfortably dispose of the Reds but the encounter between the Chiefs and a possibly resurgent Blues could be tight.

2 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 4 hours ago

'It's crazy what you hear on that mic': Jacques Nienaber on 'wink-gate'

Stop it! Now!!!!

I can't handle violent laughter at my age!

Absolute fire.

25 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 4 hours ago

'It's crazy what you hear on that mic': Jacques Nienaber on 'wink-gate'

Is the ‘broomstick’ game you refer to the same Irish sport which, in it's original form, pre-dates Christianity? By a thousand years?

I'd hope you don't take international sport for granted.

Your mob got locked out of it for decades.

25 Go to comments

AllyOz 5 hours ago

James O'Connor, the Lions and the great club v country conundrum

There is maybe a precedent for picking JOC in the mix with McDermott and Lynagh. They have played together at the Reds and JOC has previously been in that mentoring role. Maybe less disruptive with them than with Noah and say, Nic White or Lonigan if he is going for combinations.

115 Go to comments

JC 5 hours ago

'It's crazy what you hear on that mic': Jacques Nienaber on 'wink-gate'

Hahahaha, greatest cricket era, you mean that game where they’re dressed in private schooled white jumpers and drink tea during the numerous breaks and intervals over hours of monotonous and tedious tip toeing?! Ya, hard men and a tough game! Sledging is part of every team sport no problem with it and players don’t have. When it comes down to kicking penalties or during a penalty shootout in this instance, you should respect the kicker as a player or management and shut up. Some integrity and respect is needed in that case.

By the way , what’s the deal with changing your name from Bull Shark? It’s a very weak move changing your name if you thought you were getting bullied. I would have thought you had abit more balls, with the couple tough shark names you go by? It would seem to me ironically, going by what you posted above, that you can’t handle the sledging?! I think periwinkle or the little mermaid may be more apt???

25 Go to comments

John 5 hours ago

Super Rugby Pacific Australian report cards: A 2025 season deep dive

Hey Derek, cheers fo rthe comment, I think it’s important to note that a swathe of new players and coaches, no matter how good, is not a sure recipe to sucess.

The disharmony was huge between styles, philosophies and execution. I think if you haven;t already, you’ll enjoy the take Gain Line Analytics co-founder Ben Darwin gave on the Tahs on the Off the Ruck YouTube channel, which is my channel.

5 Go to comments

John 5 hours ago

Super Rugby Pacific Australian report cards: A 2025 season deep dive

I am not sure if I saw improvement, but I like his work ehtic and his agression, he just needs to be involved more. His raw stats are nothing to write home about but he’s young.

5 Go to comments

JC 5 hours ago

'It's crazy what you hear on that mic': Jacques Nienaber on 'wink-gate'

Ed, what did i tell you about choking on that saffer slong?! Take your time with it and don’t get all excited, after all it’s just bull shark with a different name, don’t gag on it…..

25 Go to comments

CN 5 hours ago

Trailfinders continue to bolster their squad with two huge signings

Have to say I have been disappointed with what is going on with the Tigers women for a period of time, Vicky McQueen worked very hard to get a women’s team at Leicester, campaigning and pushing for years only to be told by the hierachy that they are moving in a different direction. They have shown little ambition and commitment to the women’s game as if getting a women’s team was the completion of a project. I hope things change after the RWC when Welford Road will be hosting a number of games