Four Springboks named in Japan League One Best XV

The tournament wrapped up at the weekend with the Spears upsetting the favoured Panasonic Wild Knights 17-15 in the final to win the competition for the first time.

The Wild Knights had Lood de Jager and Damian de Allende in the team but Marx's Spears, expertly marshaled by Australian flyhalf Bernard Foley, pulled off a surprise victory.

With a number of Springboks based in Japan, it was no surprise to see four of them named in the Team of the Season.

Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kwagga Smith were all named in the pack while Faf de Klerk got the nod at scrumhalf.

Smith, who caused plenty of havoc as an impact player for the Boks last year, was also named Player of the Season.

The former Lions star's achievement is all the more impressive as his team the Shizuoka Blue Revs were not one of the leading performers this year.

Meanwhile, it was also confirmed on Monday that Springbok hooker Marx will be staying with the title-winning Spears for at least two more years.

It was hoped the expert poacher might be returning back to South Africa, but he is clearly enjoying his time in the land of the rising sun. Marx also has the benefit of a South African coach at the Spears in the form of former Bulls coach Frans Ludeke.