Kwagga leaves Japanese club, set for reunion with Ackermann

The Vodacom Bulls are expected to add double World Cup winner Kwagga Smith to their squad in the next few weeks after he ended his contract with his Japanese club with immediate effect.

Smith, who is out for the rest of the year with a knee injury, ended his contract with the Shizuoka Blue Revs on Tuesday by mutual consent and is now a free agent.

While he is only expected back on the field in January, it is widely expected that he will join the Bulls and add to their already impressive group of loose forwards.

Smith has previously played for Bulls coach Johan Ackermann while he was at the Lions.

Ackermann has previously acknowledged the club are in talks with both Smith and World Rugby Player of the year Malcolm Marx to join them, with the Sharks also interested in Marx’s services.

This week the Bulls confirmed that contact negotiations with Smith were at an “advanced stage” and a signing announcement is expected to come in the next few weeks.

The Bulls already have current Springbok squad members Marco van Staden, Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw, as well as Loftus cult hero Jeandre Rudolph, former Bok Marcell Coetzee, former SA under-20 captain Hanro Liebenberg, and top players such as Celimpilo Gumede, Nama Xaba and several others on their books.

Smith will be seen for his leadership role and on a contact that allows him to play locally ahead of the 2027 Rugby World cup.

Smith has been with Shizuoka since 2018, when they were still named Yamaha Junio and won the Player of the season award in Japan in 2023.

A Shizuoka club statement said: "He has always been a leader and role model for the team.

“Kwagga Smith is an important figure who has built the club's history and is a true representative of the league. We express our utmost respect and gratitude for his achievements to date and sincerely wish him continued success in the future.”

［契約終了のお知らせ］ #静岡ブルーレヴズ はこの度、 #クワッガ・スミス 選手との選手契約を終了することで双方合意に達しました。 同選手は2018年にヤマハ発動機ジュビロに加入して以来、8シーズンにわたりチームの中心選手として活躍してきました。ベストXV(フィフティーン)をトップリーグ時代に2度、リーグワンでも3度受賞。2022-23シーズンにはプレーヤー・オブ・ザ・シーズンも受賞しました。また、南アフリカ代表63キャップの経験と実績と共に、常にチームを牽引し、模範であり続けた選手でした。 クラブの歴史を築いた重要な存在であり、名実共にリーグをも代表する功労者であるクワッガ・スミス選手。これまでの功績に最大限の敬意と感謝を表するとともに、今後のさらなる活躍をクラブ一同、心より祈念いたします。 — 静岡ブルーレヴズ SHIZUOKA BlueRevs🗻🏉 (@bluerevs) October 20, 2026

An announcement is expected in the next few weeks.