Springbok flank and Vodacom Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee’s move to the Kobe Steelers in Japan has been officially confirmed by the League One club.

Coetzee had reportedly been in talks with the Japanese club for the past few months over the move, which is set to form part of a new contract with the Vodacom Bulls.

Further details are expected from the Bulls on Tuesday, but the Japan League One season gets under way on 18 December and runs until 23 April.

This means that Coetzee would not be available for the pool-stage matches in the Champions Cup and would also miss a handful of Vodacom United Rugby Championship matches, depending on the length of his contract with Kobe Steelers.

The move will be the 31-year-old’s second stint in Japan, having previously played for Honda Heat in 2015 and 2016.

“I am looking forward to playing in League One as a member of the Kobelco Kobe Steelers and meeting the fans at the stadium,” Coetzee said.

” I will do everything in my power to help the Kobe Steelers win the championship. My family and I are looking forward to new life and new encounters in Japan.”

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