Grant Williams: Springbok scrum-half begins Kobelco Kobe Steelers chapter as Nations Championship pause opens Japan door

Springbok scrum-half Grant Williams has begun bedding into life at Japanese club Kobelco Kobe Steelers during a mid-season break, just days after helping South Africa dominate the opening phase of the inaugural Nations Championship.

The 30-year-old Sharks No 9, who will leave Durban for Japan ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, has used the Springboks’ pause in Test action to visit his new side, train with his future team-mates and mark his milestone birthday in Kobe.

Williams is the latest World Cup-winning Springbok to commit his future to Japan’s burgeoning Rugby League One, joining compatriots Manie Libbok, Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jesse Kriel in the country’s increasingly star-studded competition.

Springbok star turns to new chapter after dominant Test run

Williams’ visit to Kobe comes at the halfway point of the new Nations Championship, with South Africa sitting atop the Southern Hemisphere table after an emphatic July window.

The Springboks swept aside Northern Hemisphere opposition in style, defeating England 45–21, Scotland 42–28 and then routing Wales 43–0 to underline their status as world champions and early favourites for the new global tournament.

With the competition now on hold, the national squad has broken camp ahead of a blockbuster four-Test “Greatest Rivalry” tour against New Zealand. Three of those fixtures will be staged in South Africa, before the final match takes the teams to the United States in a high-profile showcase for the sport.

It is in this gap in the Test calendar that Williams has travelled to Japan, turning his focus from immediate international duty to the long-term move that will reshape his club career.

Warm welcome in Kobe and a 30th birthday celebration

Kobelco Kobe Steelers confirmed Williams’ presence by sharing images and video clips on Instagram of the scrum-half taking part in training sessions and meeting staff and players at the club’s facilities.

The timing of his visit coincided with his 30th birthday, and the club used its social media channels to wish him well and introduce him more fully to supporters.

Williams’ transfer was first announced by the Sharks in April, ending speculation over his next destination and signalling another high-profile South African departure to Japan’s top tier.

He later outlined his enthusiasm for the move and his impressions of the club and city.

“I am deeply honoured and excited to be joining the Kobelco Kobe Steelers starting in the 26/27 season. I’ve heard a lot of great things about the club and the city of Kobe, and I’m looking forward to meeting all the steel mates.

“This is an exciting new chapter in my career, and I’m looking forward to every moment,” he said in a statement.

Growing Springbok footprint in Japan

Williams’ switch reinforces a strong South African presence in Japan’s professional game. Top internationals increasingly divide their careers between domestic or European leagues and lucrative contracts in Asia, while remaining in contention for Springbok selection.

By joining Libbok, Marx, Du Toit, Kriel and a number of other World Cup winners already based there, Williams will be part of a familiar core of teammates when he finally links up with Kobelco Kobe Steelers full-time.

The move also reflects Japan’s ongoing ambition to attract elite talent from leading rugby nations, both to raise the standard of its domestic league and to grow the sport’s commercial appeal across Asia.

For now, Williams remains firmly in the Springbok frame as the Nations Championship approaches its decisive stages and the “Greatest Rivalry” series against the All Blacks looms. But his brief introduction to Kobe suggests that, once his international commitments allow, his transition into Japanese rugby is already well under way.