TRANSFER TRACKER: Springbok star's future plans

The Springbok star Malcolm Marx headlines this week’s transfer news, and a former England coach has revealed he is heading to Ireland.

Marx has signed a new deal with  Spears, which will see him extend his stay in Japan until June 2027, the Japanese League One club confirmed.

The double World Cup-winner has been an incredible feat for the team since joining the Japanese side from the Lions in 2021.

He has made more than 30 appearances for the Spears.

Unfortunately, the 30-year-old missed out on winning a second title in Japan following Sunday’s League One Final defeat by Brave Lupus.

【カテゴリC選手 契約合意（継続）のお知らせ】
クボタスピアーズ船橋・東京ベイは、マルコム・マークス選手と2027年6月までの選手契約合意に至りましたのでお知らせします。

Contract Agreement:
Kubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY is pleased to announce that we have reached a contract… pic.twitter.com/62T8p8856v

— クボタスピアーズ船橋・東京ベイ (@Kubota_Spears) June 2, 2025

* Meanwhile, rumours have it that the Bulls have reportedly secured the services of a Springbok world champion and URC title-winning lock.

According to weekend reports, the Bulls have managed to lure lock Marvin Orie back to Pretoria.

Orie, who last played for the Boks at the 2023 World Cup, is set to join from French club Perpignan.

The 32-year-old previously spent time at Loftus between 2014 and 2016 before stints with the Lions, Stormers and Ospreys.

The Bulls have certainly been busy as the franchise is also linked with the signature of Western Province and Zebre lock Dylan de Leeuw.

* Connacht and the IRFU have announced the appointment of Stuart Lancaster as the club’s new head coach.

Lancaster has signed a two-year contract and arrives at the province with a wealth of coaching experience at the highest level of the sport, across all three major European leagues and at the international level.

In other transfer news:

• In Japan, Australia flyhalf Bernard Foley signed for one more season with Spears.
• Hooker Schalk Erasmus will depart Spears after joining the club in 2022 from the Bulls. The hooker has been struggling to get game time at the Japan side.
• Wallabies prop Tom Robertson has extended his contract with Western Force. The 30-year-old will remain at the franchise for a further two seasons, taking him through until 2027.
• The 23-year-old hooker Billy Pollard put pen to paper to extend his time with the Brumbies until after the home World Cup.
• Former England attack coach and Great Britain Sevens 2016 Olympic Games silver medal-winning coach, Simon Amor, is heading back to Hong Kong in a wide-ranging role.
• Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson has re-signed with the ladder-leaders until the 2027 season, keeping him in contention for the All Blacks for the upcoming World Cup.
• The Waratahs have re-signed tough-as-teak centre Joey Walton for 2026.
• Western Force announced that experienced scrumhalf Wallaby Nic White has re-committed for another season in the west.
• Hooker Richie Asiata’s strong season for the Reds has been rewarded with a new contract for 2026.
• Former Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu announced his retirement from the international game, having played the last of his 43 Tests in November’s loss to Ireland.
• The Ospreys announced that Welsh forward Ross Moriarty will join the team ahead of the 25/26 season. Capped 54 times for Wales and a British & Irish Lion tourist in 2017, the 31-year-old returns home from a spell in France with Brive.
• Talented 21-year-old young prop Jordan Morris has signed a new Senior Academy contract to remain with the Dragons.
• The Chiefs confirmed one-Test All Black outside back Sean Stevenson’s departure at the end of the 2025 Super Rugby season to Japan Rugby League One outfit Spears.
• The Dragons announced the signing of Tonga centre Fetuili Paea from Zebre.
• Former Olympic sevens champion Masivesi Dakuwaqa will join French third-division side Nice next season.
• Rory Jennings signed a new contract to remain with Cardiff.
• Former international Leigh Halfpenny will join the Wales coaching team for the two-Test matches against Japan this July.
• Munster confirmed the departure of 200-cap Rory Scannell at the end of the season after 12 years at his home province.
• Japanese scrumhalf Naoto Saito has extended his contract with Toulouse until June 2026, the Top 14 club announced Thursday.
• Worcester Warriors have signed their eighth player from the Premiership ahead of their return to rugby next season in Champ Rugby, bringing in Newcastle Falcons fullback Louis Brown.
• Moana Pasifika released 15 players from their roster following their 2025 Super Rugby campaign. The players are: Sione Havili Talitui, Danny Toala, Lotu Inisi, Fine Inisi, Michael Curry, Alamanda Motuga, Neria Fomai, Pepesana Patafilo, Kyren Taumoefolau, Sama Malolo, Aisea Halo, Tomasi Maka, Irie Papuni, Pone Fa’amusili, Connor Seve.
• Cardiff have bolstered their forward pack with the signing of lock George Nott.