The Bulls have confirmed the signing of Malcolm Marx on a long-term contract, with the World Rugby Player of the Year set to join the Pretoria franchise in July 2027.
Marx, 32, returns to South African franchise rugby after six years in Japan — first with NTT Shining Arcs from 2020, then with Kubota Spears — and will link up again with Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann, under whom he played at the Lions. The signing follows the recent arrival of Kwagga Smith and signals an increasingly aggressive recruitment drive at Loftus.
With 94 Test caps and 29 international tries — the most by any South African forward — Marx is approaching a century of Springbok appearances. His two Rugby World Cup winners' medals (2019, 2023) and consistent recognition as one of the game's premier hookers make this among the most significant Bulls signings in recent memory.
"I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join such a historic and respected club," Marx said. "It is an exciting new chapter for me, and I look forward to reconnecting and working alongside former teammates and coaches."
Ackermann, who first encountered Marx as a 16-year-old at KES, drew early comparisons between his young charge and Bismarck du Plessis — a call that attracted scepticism at the time. "He's one of the hardest workers I coached, someone with great integrity too," Ackermann said. "I have so much respect for him, grateful that his rugby journey has come full circle with me."
Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone described the signing as a statement of the franchise's trophy-winning ambitions. Marx is currently on tour with the Springboks for their November Nations Championship Tests against Italy, France and Ireland.