The Springbok brigade kicked off their campaign in Japan with a bang, making their presence felt across the Rugby League One landscape. Cheslin Kolbe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Malcolm Marx turned up the heat for their teams, showcasing the hefty South African flair sprinkled throughout the league.
In a stunning turn of events, the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, sans Springbok heavyweights Damian de Allende and Lood de Jager, steamrolled over defending champs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo with a jaw-dropping 46-0 scoreline. Talk about setting the bar high!
Meanwhile, the Yokohama Canon Eagles weren’t as fortunate, falling 39-27 to the Shizuoka BlueRevs. Despite the loss, Jesse Kriel and Faf de Klerk shone brightly, with De Klerk bagging a try before an injury snatched him off the pitch—another chapter in his frustrating saga of setbacks in Japan.
On a brighter note, Malcolm Marx was pivotal in the Kubota Spears’ nail-biting 33-28 victory against the Kobelco Kobe Steelers. The World Rugby Player of the Year dug deep, playing a crucial role even as his team was down to 14 men.
Over at Tokyo Sungoliath, Cheslin Kolbe was nothing short of spectacular, helping his team erase a halftime deficit to secure a 29-15 triumph over the Black Rams Tokyo. Kolbe, alongside the formidable Sean McMahon, crossed the white line, turning the game on its head in the second half.
"It’s always about pushing the limits and setting new benchmarks," Kolbe remarked post-game.
World Cup hero Lukhanyo Am’s debut for Mitsubishi Dynaboars, however, ended in a narrow 27-24 defeat to Jasper Wiese’s Urayasu D-Rocks. Despite the loss, Am’s performance was a silver lining, signaling potential for future outings.
Division 2 also saw some Bok magic with Manie Libbok dazzling in his first game for Hanazono Kintetsu Liners, leading them to a comfortable 40-14 win over Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi.
Pieter-Steph du Toit made a triumphant return to Toyota Verblitz, marking his first game since May 2024 by scoring a try and setting up another in their 44-33 win over Honda Heat. Du Toit’s comeback is a big boost for the team, proving he’s still a force to be reckoned with on the field.
The action-packed weekend was a testament to the skill and impact of South African players in Japan, promising an exciting season ahead in the Rugby League One.
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The Springbok brigade kicked off their campaign in Japan with a bang, making their presence felt across the Rugby League One landscape. Cheslin Kolbe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Malcolm Marx turned up the heat for their teams, showcasing the hefty South African flair sprinkled throughout the league.
In a stunning turn of events, the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, sans Springbok heavyweights Damian de Allende and Lood de Jager, steamrolled over defending champs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo with a jaw-dropping 46-0 scoreline. Talk about setting the bar high!
Meanwhile, the Yokohama Canon Eagles weren’t as fortunate, falling 39-27 to the Shizuoka BlueRevs. Despite the loss, Jesse Kriel and Faf de Klerk shone brightly, with De Klerk bagging a try before an injury snatched him off the pitch—another chapter in his frustrating saga of setbacks in Japan.
On a brighter note, Malcolm Marx was pivotal in the Kubota Spears’ nail-biting 33-28 victory against the Kobelco Kobe Steelers. The World Rugby Player of the Year dug deep, playing a crucial role even as his team was down to 14 men.
Over at Tokyo Sungoliath, Cheslin Kolbe was nothing short of spectacular, helping his team erase a halftime deficit to secure a 29-15 triumph over the Black Rams Tokyo. Kolbe, alongside the formidable Sean McMahon, crossed the white line, turning the game on its head in the second half.
"It’s always about pushing the limits and setting new benchmarks," Kolbe remarked post-game.
World Cup hero Lukhanyo Am’s debut for Mitsubishi Dynaboars, however, ended in a narrow 27-24 defeat to Jasper Wiese’s Urayasu D-Rocks. Despite the loss, Am’s performance was a silver lining, signaling potential for future outings.
Division 2 also saw some Bok magic with Manie Libbok dazzling in his first game for Hanazono Kintetsu Liners, leading them to a comfortable 40-14 win over Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi.
Pieter-Steph du Toit made a triumphant return to Toyota Verblitz, marking his first game since May 2024 by scoring a try and setting up another in their 44-33 win over Honda Heat. Du Toit’s comeback is a big boost for the team, proving he’s still a force to be reckoned with on the field.
The action-packed weekend was a testament to the skill and impact of South African players in Japan, promising an exciting season ahead in the Rugby League One.