Johan Ackermann confirms Bulls negotiations for Marx and Smith
Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann confirmed ongoing negotiations to sign Kubota Spears hooker Malcolm Marx and Shizuoka Blue Revs captain Kwagga Smith during a pre-match press conference on Thursday. The potential acquisitions target the South African United Rugby Championship side ahead of the current season.
Ackermann Targets Springbok Veterans for Pretoria Squad
Fresh off a 47-13 opening victory away against Zebre on Saturday, the Bulls are actively pursuing two of South Africa’s most decorated forwards. Ackermann, the former Urayasu D-Rocks boss who was replaced by Greig Laidlaw in 2024, addressed questions from a South African journalist regarding the status of the negotiations. Confirming that discussions remain open, Ackermann stated, “There are still negotiations going on. Their names are on our table and we’ll look at them but it’s not finished yet, and it’s still a bit of a long way to go.” When pressed on whether a deal was nearing completion for either player, the coach responded with “Not yay or nay.”
Contract Timelines and Current Squad Status
Malcolm Marx joined Kubota from Ackermann’s former team Urayasu (then Shining Arcs) in 2021 and signed a new two-year extension a year ago that runs through June 2027. The 2023 League One winner is currently part of the Springboks’ squad for a match against the Wallabies, where national head coach Rassie Erasmus has floated the possibility of utilizing the double World Cup winner in an unfamiliar back-row role.
Meanwhile, Kwagga Smith faces a different timeline as he recovers from physical rehabilitation. Smith has established himself as a central figure in Japanese club rugby since joining Shizuoka during the Top League era in 2018 when the team played as Yamaha Júbilo, highlighted by a strong performance that included scoring a brace against Mitsubishi in April.
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