Springbok wing Kurt-Lee Arendse says playing for the Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars has been ‘good for the body and the mental side of things’.
It didn’t take Arendse long to become big in Japan, writes SIMON BORCHARDT in SA Rugby magazine.
In the 61st minute of his much-awaited league debut for the Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars in December, the Springbok flyer received possession just outside the Urayasu D-Rocks’ 10m line. Wearing the No 15 jersey, he turned on the afterburners to scorch two would-be tacklers before bouncing off the cross-cover defender to score (no need for that trademark side-step on this occasion).
The crowd at the 15 000-capacity Sagamihara Gion Stadium rose to applaud their new star and did so again when he left the field a few minutes later, with the Dynaboars going on to win their season opener 31-19.
“I had played for the team before the league season but that was just a warm-up, to get the blood flowing and a bit of game time,” the 28-year-old tells SA Rugby magazine. “My league debut was pretty special and the boys helped to make it special because we won.”
Arendse had spoken to his agent about his desire to play club rugby in Japan after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, in which he’d worn the Springbok No 14 jersey on five occasions, including all three play-off matches. And it wasn’t just about the money.
Arendse had played in Japan before, for the Blitzboks at the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but been confined to the team hotel due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
“I wanted to experience and explore the country properly,” he says. “This time, I’ve been to Tokyo and the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Yokohama, Osaka and Kyoto, and I’ll visit more places before the end of the season.”
Arendse’s sabbatical deal with the Dynaboars saw him make four appearances for the Bulls in the URC last October before heading to Japan after his Test commitments with the Springboks in November. While the plan was for him to return to Pretoria in May, ahead of the URC play-offs, he could stay longer than expected.
“It’s a massive loss,” Bulls coach Jake White said when confirming Arendse’s departure. “He’s won our Player of the Year award three years in a row and the Players’ Player of the Year twice, so the group sees him as important, as well as the coaches and fans.
“But we have to afford our players these opportunities in order to keep them in the country, otherwise you’re going to have a mass exodus of players wanting to make money overseas.”
Arendse smiles when asked how he broke the news to White.
“I let my agent handle that! I think Jake was sad to see me leave, but also happy for me.”
Granting a sabbatical is certainly a better option for South Africa’s top franchises than a permanent goodbye, and the player doesn’t just benefit financially.
“We only play 18 games a season here,” says Arendse, who had started 12 league matches for the Dynaboars by early April and played the full 80 minutes on eight occasions.
“That’s good for the body and the mental side of things, because you get more time off. There’s also a lot less travel, as all of our opponents are only an hour or two away. And for some games we take the train.”
However, Arendse is at pains to point out that while Japan Rugby League One (previously known as the Top League) is not the same level as the URC, it is a highly-competitive, ever-improving competition.
“Games are played at a high intensity and you have to be switched on every weekend. I enjoy it because there’s more of a focus on running rugby, which suits my game, but it’s also a lot more physical than people think.
“It’s a popular league and everyone wants to play in it. Rugby is really growing in Japan.’
Arendse made his first two appearances for the Dynaboars at fullback, before moving to the right wing for three games, and then back to 15.
“When I arrived, the coach [Glenn Delaney] asked me what position I prefer and I told him I don’t mind where I play, I just want to be on the field contributing to the team, whether it’s on the left wing, right wing or at fullback.”
Arendse’s biggest challenge, as is often the case with newly-arrived foreigners, has been the language barrier.
“It’s difficult to learn Japanese, but I have picked up a few words. It obviously makes things so much easier, on and off the field, if you can speak the language.
“The club has a translator, which obviously helps a lot, and if he’s not around, some of the other boys who can speak English will translate for those of us who don’t understand Japanese. But I know the rugby terms, which is the most important thing.”
Arendse says a club like the Dynaboars compares favourably to a South African franchise like the Bulls in terms of professionalism and facilities, but it’s the fans who have impressed him the most.
“Even if you got a big hiding the previous weekend [his second match was a 61-8 away loss to Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo] they will pitch up and support you. They’re phenomenal.”
Also read: Kurt-Lee isn’t going anywhere – Bulls
Would he consider signing a permanent deal in Japan that would end his time with the Bulls? Arendse expertly dodges the question like he would a defender.
“I haven’t thought about it. I’m focused on making the most of this opportunity, performing on the field and growing as a player while helping my teammates to do the same.”
Arendse on …
Living in Sagamihara
“It’s nice and quiet. I have a two-bedroom apartment that’s quite big. Sometimes I don’t know what to do with all the space!”
Socialising with SA opponents
“We have a chat after the game but don’t really see much of each other because our clubs are far away from each other and we have different schedules. But we’re all on a WhatsApp group and the boys are making plans to get together.”
Growing with the Boks
“Before my debut [in 2022 against Wales in Bloemfontein] I told myself, ‘You must make use of this opportunity, because you might not get another one’. So whenever I put the Springbok jersey over my head, I remind myself that I might not get another opportunity. I’m always looking to develop my game within the Springbok system and grow as a player. I spend a lot of time on “extras” and focusing on certain aspects of the game.”
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