Cheslin Kolbe joins several of his World Cup-winning South Africa teammates in the Japanese league, including scrum-half Faf de Klerk, hooker Malcolm Marx and centre Damian de Allende.
FILE: Cheslin Kolbe during the ANS – Autumn Nations Series Italy, rugby match between Italy and South Africa on 19 November 2022 at Luigi Ferrarsi Stadium in Genova, Italy.
Picture: Nderim Kaceli/NurPhoto/AFP
TOKYO – World Cup-winning Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe will play for Japanese club Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath next year, the club announced Thursday.
Kolbe, 29, left French side Toulon at the end of last month by mutual consent, with one year left on his contract.
He joins several of his World Cup-winning South Africa teammates in the Japanese league, including scrum-half Faf de Klerk, hooker Malcolm Marx and centre Damian de Allende.
“This is going to be a new chapter and challenge in my career, and I’d like to thank everyone who made the move possible,” Kolbe said in a statement released by the club.
“Suntory is a team with an impressive history, and I am looking forward to making new memories with the team over the seasons ahead.”
【SUNGOLIATH NEWS RELEASE】
新加入選手のお知らせ！いつも東京サントリーサンゴリアスへの温かいご声援ありがとうございます。
この度、2023-24シーズンより、チェスリン・コルビ選手がサンゴリアスへ加入することが決定しましたのでお知らせします。https://t.co/A52SNqElji pic.twitter.com/N0MRBueZl6
‘ サンゴリアス君 (@sungoliath) June 8, 2023
Suntory lost to eventual champions Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay in the semifinals of the Japan Rugby League One championship last month.
The club have had several big-name international players on their books in recent years, including New Zealand’s Beauden Barrett and Australia’s Samu Kerevi.
Kolbe joined Toulon from Top 14 rivals Toulouse in 2021, and scored six tries in 18 matches this season despite an ankle sprain that sidelined him for a month.
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