TOKYO - Former Wallabies flyhalf Bernard Foley has yet to confirm his next career move but departs Spears Tokyo Bay confident the Japan Rugby League One club is in a stronger position than when he arrived.
The 36-year-old, who has been linked with a move back to Super Rugby's Waratahs in his native Sydney, made his last appearance for the Spears in Sunday's 22-13 loss to Kobe Steelers in the League One championship final.
"It's been an incredible journey for myself coming here, and I can't speak higher of this team," Foley said following the final at Tokyo's MUFG Stadium.
Foley joined the then-Kubota Spears, now officially known as Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay, after playing for Australia at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
He helped lead the Frans Ludeke-coached club to their first championship in 2023 and runner-up finishes the past two seasons. The playmaker leaves as Japanese top-flight rugby's leading point-scorer since the premier competition was relaunched as League One in 2022.
"When I came here, I had one goal, or two goals -- to really enjoy the Japanese lifestyle, but also to leave Kubota in a better place, and I think I can be satisfied that that's the case, because of the success the team has had and the growth in so many of these players."
Foley, who last played for the Wallabies in 2022, indicated he was still in talks concerning his playing future after initially planning to hang up his boots at the end of the League One season.
"I was very content in retiring, in this being my last season, but yeah, I'm still not sure yet," he said. "There's been a conversation. I was really focused on finishing here at Kubota and wrapping up my ties here in Japan before making any decision moving forward."
The veteran said he would maintain his relationship with the Spears and look back on his time in Japanese rugby with fond memories.
"Playing footy here has really ignited my love for the game...Japan gave me a life and a rugby career that I'm always going to cherish," he said. "Hopefully I can come back in many years to come and see the success of Kubota and say that I played a small part in that."
