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Rugby World Cup winning Springbok Cheslin Kolbe is set to sign a mega-deal with Japanese Rugby League One heavyweights Suntory Sungoliath, according to multiple reports.
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According to South African website News24, the electric outside back is set to sign a deal with the Tokyo-based club for about R18 million (1.5m NZD) per season.
Japan rugby in a nutshell.
On the day reports from South Africa suggest Cheslin Kolbe will sign for Sungoliath for between 130-155 million yen a season, Red Dolphins announce more departures making it 23 players and 21 staff leaving.#Haves #Havenots
— Rich Freeman (@FreemanrugbyJPN) June 6, 2023
Suntory have quite an impressive squad at the moment, which includes former Wallaby Sean McMahon in the backrow and Australian lock Harry Hockings.
Japanese rugby is certainly on the rise, with a number of world-class players currently plying their trade in the land of the rising sun.
Former South African sevens ace Kwagga Smith was crowned the player of the season last month, and included in the team of the year alongside fellow Springboks Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Faf de Klerk.
Australians Bernard Foley and Marika Koroibete also starred this season.
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French club Toulon recently confirmed that they’d reached a mutual agreement with Kolbe to release the Springbok from his current deal.
Kolbe, who helped the tradition French heavyweights win the Challenge Cup this season, had three years to run on his contract.
“The entire RCT team wishes Cheslin Kolbe the best for the future and an excellent Rugby World Cup, which he will prepare with the Springboks at the RCT Campus,” Toulon wrote on their website.
“Cheslin Kolbe will be honoured during the end-of-season Garden Parties organised this Monday and Tuesday at the RCT Campus.”
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Kolbe, who has played 23 Test matches for the Springboks, had previously played for Toulouse in the Top 14.
“I would like to thank the club, my team-mates and all the supporters for the opportunity given to me to play in Toulon during the two seasons and which I appreciated very much,” Kolbe said.
“I would have liked to say in Toulon but the financial constraints of the clubs and the injuries made things difficult.”
