— Cape Town When Marcell Coetzee joins Kobe Steelers later this year, he and his family are looking forward to enjoying a “new life and fresh interactions in Japan.”
This Monday, the Japanese club confirmed that the Bulls captain will be playing for them in League One when the season begins in mid-December.
The 31-year-old loose forward is taking a vacation similar to the one Sharks star Lukhanyo Am had earlier this year with Kobe, where he spent two months.
Coetzee is under contract with the Bulls until 2024 and is expected to sign an extension until 2026 to remain with the Pretoria franchise. This means that he will return to Loftus Versfeld at the conclusion of the Japanese season, which could be between April and the end of May depending on Kobe’s performance.
“I am excited to play in League One for the Kobelco Kobe Steelers and to meet the supporters at the stadium,” Coetzee said on the team’s website.
“I will do all possible to assist the Kobe Steelers in winning the championship. My family and I anticipate a fresh life and new experiences in Japan.”
Coetzee is now in Europe with the Bulls on a United Rugby Championship (URC) trip, where they are preparing for Saturday’s encounter against Glasgow in Scotland (8.35pm kick-off).
Coetzee, who was recalled to the Springboks earlier this year, was omitted from the Rugby Championship roster in favor of Stormers star Deon Fourie.
He is also unlikely to be included in the Bok squad for the end-of-year tour, but he could play for the SA ‘A’ team against Munster and Bristol.
Coetzee had a fantastic URC season last year, where he tied for the most tries scored with 11 and provided the most offloads. In addition to being selected to the Tournament Team, he was also named the Bulls’ Most Valuable Player.
Last year’s finalists recorded victory against the Lions, Edinburgh, and Connacht in South Africa on Sunday before heading to the United Kingdom on Monday.
Last week, Marco van Staden started at No. 7 for the Bulls against Connacht in preparation for life without Coetzee. Bulls coach Jake White has recently emphasized the importance of giving other players game time in order to prepare for life without Coetzee, which is why Jake White opted to start Marco van Staden at
Van Staden will likely assume Coetzee’s No. 6 shirt in his absence, since the captain will conclude his current stay with the Bulls on October 21 against Benetton in Treviso.
The Bulls have a URC bye the following weekend, and then there is the mid-season break due to the November international Test window before they return to the pitch on November 26 against the Ospreys at Loftus Versfeld.
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