Overview
- League One chairman Genichi Tamatsuka congratulated Malcolm Marx and hailed the league’s environment for developing and supporting elite players.
- Players with Japan club ties have claimed World Rugby’s top individual award 13 times since 2001, including a current streak of Savea (2023), du Toit (2024) and Marx (2025).
- The Kubota Spears hooker returned from a 2023 ACL injury to score 11 tries in 19 games last season, taking his club tally to 35 in 51 and helping the side reach the final.
- Four former recipients — Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ardie Savea and Brodie Retallick — are slated to play in 2025–26, three ahead of any other domestic competition featuring an active former winner.
- JRLO’s fifth edition starts December 13 with Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo hosting Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath, while the Spears visit Kobe later the same day.