Latest news with #KubotaSpears
ABC News
01-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
'The Lord's team' — Ardie Savea weighs in on Moana Pasifika situation
Super Rugby Pacific player of the year Ardie Savea addressed the uncertainty surrounding Moana Pasifika's future today, calling it "a huge loss" if the team were cut from the competition. "I think any competition needs them in," said Mr Savea at the team's home of North Harbour Stadium, where the All Blacks are preparing for the first test against France. Moana Pasifika are currently in the midst of financial struggles, after allegations were made of owners using public funding to service the side. "Like I said, we're the Lord's team, we're the people's team. So hopefully, you know, whatever that looks like above my shoulders, it can work out," said Mr Savea. This week Moana Pasifika owners Pasifika Medical Association Group have denied any public funding has gone into the side, while Te Puni Kōkiri has launched an independent review into allegations of inappropriate use of public funding allocated for Whānau Ora commissioning services. On top of this, Sky TV are believed to be close to ending their jersey sponsorship deal and NZ Rugby's projected reduced broadcast deal will likely affect the amount of funding Moana receive. Mr Savea is contracted until the end of the 2027 season, however, has a clause that allows him to spend next season playing overseas. The 96-test loose forward confirmed last month that he would be heading back for another lucrative short term deal at Japanese team Kubota Spears in 2026. All Blacks season kicks off Saturday Meanwhile, Mr Savea is part of an intriguing loose forward picture for the All Blacks, who will face France this Saturday. He will certainly start Saturday's season opener, but just who joins him is yet to be seen. "It's hard because the loosie roles are quite interchangeable now on the field. You know, there's no specific role. It's not about you individually. It's how you collectively as a trio work together," said Mr Savea. Former Hurricanes teammate Du'Plessis Kirifi and impressive Crusaders number eight Christian Lio-Willie are in line to make test debuts, while Samipeni Finau will likely start at blindside, "I played with Dupes for a while at the Canes and Christian, they've played awesome and they're in here for a reason. (But) All Blacks is a different level. So it's up to us to get around each other and best prepare for this level." The expectations are high for the All Blacks to start their campaign off with a big win over a very inexperienced and understrength French team, which was today further hampered with news of an injuries to fullback Cheikh Tiberghien and wing Gabin Villière. However, in typical All Black fashion, Mr Savea said no opponent would be taken lightly. "It's what the jersey demands, and it doesn't matter who you play. You have to go out there and put your best foot forward. That's just the standard we uphold for ourselves." RNZ
NZ Herald
02-06-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Shaun Stevenson to leave Chiefs for Japanese club Kubota Spears
Chiefs player Shaun Stevenson has confirmed his move to Japanese club Kubota Spears at the end of this year's Super Rugby Pacific season. Kubota announced they had reached a contract agreement with him until June 2027. In a release, the Chiefs said Stevenson had made an 'outstanding contribution' to
The Citizen
02-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Malcolm Marx extends Japanese stay
Malcolm Marx has reportedly penned a new deal with the Kubota Spears, which will see the two-time Springbok world champion continue to power the Japanese club until June 2027. The 30-year-old, who missed out on winning a second title in Japan following Sunday's League One final defeat by Toshiba Brave Lupus, has made more than 30 appearances for the Spears since 2021. #BREAKING Malcolm Marx has extended his contract with Kubota Spears until June 2027#rugbyjp — (@rugbyjpcom) June 2, 2025 He linked up with the Frans Ludeke-coached outfit in 2020 from fellow Japanese outfit NTT Shining Arcs, who the hulking front-ranker joined after five years with the Lions in South Africa. SAFFAS ABROAD: Pollard powers Tigers to playoffs One of the original members of the Bomb Squad that helped South Africa win the 2019 world cup, Marx wrestled the Bok No 2 jumper away from Bongi Mbonambi in 2023 before a serious knee injury in a pool clash against Scotland ruled him out for the rest of the tournament. Marx is widely considered the best hooker on the planet, and is as good as any specialist fetcher over the ball as well as a threat on attack – the Germiston-born rake is the top try-scorer among forwards in Bok history (21 tries in 76 Tests). The post Marx extends Japanese stay appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
France 24
01-06-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Mo'unga shrugs off broken hand to win Japanese title
The fly-half has finished every season in top-level domestic rugby since 2017 with a winner's medal and he picked up another as Toshiba beat Kubota Spears 18-13 in the Japan Rugby League One final. He had to do it the hard way after breaking his right hand in the closing stages of last week's semi-final win, with coach Todd Blackadder expecting his star man was "70-30" to miss the final. Mo'unga said he spent three days in an oxygen chamber in the build-up to the game and "knew all along that I was going to play". "I knew it wasn't impossible to play this weekend, and obviously a final, it's a no-brainer really," said the 31-year-old. "You want to give yourself the best chance to be part of something special." Mo'unga joined Toshiba on a three-year deal after helping New Zealand reach the 2023 World Cup final, where they lost to South Africa. He gave another playmaking masterclass in front of more than 50,000 fans at Tokyo's National Stadium. Mo'unga scored his team's first try with less than 10 minutes on the clock and set up their second with a crafty dummy early in the second half. He also scored eight points with his boot. Mo'unga won seven Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders in New Zealand and said he was "so grateful to be part of winning teams". "I try to tell some of the boys in our team not to take this moment for granted because a lot of people don't win, and a lot of people don't win back to back," he said. 'Ultimate team man' Mo'unga jinked through the opposition defence to open the scoring in the eighth minute. He also started the second half strongly, taking out a defender with a dummy before slipping the ball to Yuto Mori for Toshiba's second try. Mo'unga said the pain in his hand made "things just a little bit harder" but did not affect his game. "Once you get out there, you just play rugby and try not to think about it too much," he said. Toshiba's victory denied Kubota's Australian fly-half Bernard Foley and South African hooker Malcolm Marx a second title in Japan. Marx said he was not aware that Mo'unga was carrying an injury. "He's a great player, he showed that how he performed today even with a broken hand," said Marx. "It shows his resilience." Toshiba finished the regular season in first place, which earned them a bye into the play-off semi-finals. Third-placed Kubota had to come through a quarter-final and were looking to regain the title that they won in 2023. Toshiba coach Blackadder hailed Mo'unga's influence on his side, calling him the "ultimate team man". "At the start of the week, we weren't sure," he said of Mo'unga's injury. "It was 70-30 that he wouldn't be available and he just found a way." © 2025 AFP
The Mainichi
30-05-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Rugby: Brave Lupus aim to retain League One title in trademark style
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Defending champions Brave Lupus Tokyo are unlikely to part from their tried-and-tested game plan when they battle the Kubota Spears in the Japan Rugby League One final, lock Warner Dearns indicated Friday. Speaking ahead of Sunday's championship decider at Tokyo's National Stadium, Japan international Dearns said they would continue emphasizing the expansive, attacking rugby that yielded a league-best 741 points on their way to first place in the regular season. "We're a team that moves the ball," Dearns said. "If we can attack with the style that we have honed, we can win." The Todd Blackadder-coached team will also be confident of their defensive resilience after stopping the Kobe Steelers from scoring a try in a 31-3 semifinal rout last weekend. Their attacking movement has been underpinned by the playmaking of former All Black flyhalf Richie Mo'unga, the reigning League One MVP, who heads into the final on the back of a man-of-the-match performance against Kobe. Captain and No. 8 Michael Leitch and fullback Takuro Matsunaga are among the other linchpins in a Brave Lupus starting XV who will enter as favorites after winning as underdogs last year against the Saitama Wild Knights in front of some 56,000 at the Tokyo Olympic venue. "The cheering was so loud, it felt like the ground was shaking," Matsunaga said. "It won't come as a surprise this time around, so I will be able to enjoy it." After finishing the season third, the Frans Ludeke-coached Spears have had to contend with an extra round of playoff rugby, followed by a grueling semifinal win against Saitama. The 2022-2023 champions will aim to continue their strong defensive play, exemplified by hard-tackling South African hooker Malcolm Marx, who was at the forefront of both playoff wins. Scrumhalf Shinobu Fujiwara will also look for another big performance after scoring a brace of tries last weekend against a Saitama side that was expected to advance to their fourth straight League One final. "I want to read the situation quickly and perform at my best without rushing things," Fujiwara said.
