Following the conclusion of the Japan Rugby League One season – which saw Malcolm Marx’s Kubota Spears win the title – four South Africans were named in the Team of the Season.
There was also special recognition for former Lions loose forward Kwagga Smith.
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The tournament wrapped up at the weekend with the Spears upsetting the favoured Panasonic Wild Knights 17-15 in the final to win the competition for the first time.
Kwagga Smith named Japan Rugby League One Player of the Season
The Wild Knights had Lood de Jager and Damian de Allende in the team, but Marx’s Spears, expertly marshaled by Australian flyhalf Bernard Foley, pulled off a surprise victory.
With a number of Springboks based in Japan, it was no surprise to see four of them named in the Team of the Season.
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Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kwagga Smith were all named in the pack while Faf de Klerk got the nod at scrumhalf.
Smith, who caused plenty of havoc as an impact player for the Springboks last year, was also named Player of the Season.
The former Lions star’s achievement is all the more impressive as his team the Shizuoka Blue Revs were not one of the leading performers this year.
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