Former Wallabies fly-half Bernard Foley to retire alongside ex-Japan captain

Japan Rugby League One outfit Kubota Spears have announced that former Australia fly-half will leave the club at the end of the current season.

The 36-year-old is one of five players who will leave the Tokyo-based club, with rugbyjp.com further reporting that he will retire.

Former Japan captain Pieter ‘Lappies’ Labuschagne, 37, Bryn Hall, 34, David Bulbring, 36, and Gerhard van den Heever, 36, will also leave the club, with jprugby.com also reporting that Labuschagne and Bulbring will also retire.

Foley and full-back van den Heever both started in the League One final victory over Saitama Wild Knights in 2023, with the Australian kicking 12 of their 17 points as the Kubota Spears won their maiden title.

With the Spears sitting in third place in the league this season with four matches remaining, the Spears are well-positioned to challenge for another title.