Malcolm Marx is a professional South African rugby player who plays as a Hooker for the Springboks. At the club level, Marx currently plays for the Japanese side Kubota Spears.
Malcolm Marx is also widely known as a member of the famous Bombsquad. Being one of the first names on the Springboks team sheet, Malcolm Marx is rated among the best hookers in world rugby.
Off the field, Malcolm Marx is an attention drawer, thanks to his unique lifestyle. His tattoos are also something many fans are always fascinated by. Indeed, Malcolm Marx is one of the most famous rugby players, but here are some facts about the talented hooker.
KEY FACTS
Full name: Malcolm Marx
Date of birth: 13 July 1994
Age: 31 years
Place of birth: Germiston, South Africa
Wife: Kirsten Marx (née Grant
Children: 2 (Kenna and Jack Justin)
Height: 1.89 m
Weight: 116 kg
Position(s): Hooker
THE RISE OF ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST HOOKERS
Growing up in KwaDukathole, a place also known as Germiston, Malcolm Marx did not have the most luxurious lifestyle. Born on 13 July 1994, the talented hooker showed solemn promise as a boy.
As early as 2007, he was playing in the Under-13 Craven Week competition. Three years later, in 2010, he also played in the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week, leaving a significant mark on his name.
Malcolm went on to school at King Edward VII School and made a big name for himself in the first team. In 2011, he joined the South African Academy before joining the South African Schools squad in 2012.
Throughout the years, he played in most of his age group’s competitions until he reached the top. He grew up to become a well-known young player in the Golden Lions U19. He later joined the U20 South African team for the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship.
His outstanding performances with U2S marked a turning point in his life, as he graduated from junior to professional rugby.
CAREER
After the exciting and promising performances, Malcolm Marx made his professional debut for the Golden Lions in 2014.
He also produced top performances for the Lions from 2014 to 2019 and won many awards. At this point, it was clear that Malcolm Marx would be one of the best players in the country.
In 2020, he joined the Japanese side, NTT Shining Arcs, but did not stay as long as initially expected. The following year, he joined Kubota Spears in Japan and remained with them until 2026.
Over the years, Malcolm Marx has established himself as one of the best players ever to play in Japan.
THE SPRINGBOKS
Despite commanding a decorated career at the club level, Malcolm Marx is one of the most respected Springboks. He is also among the group of senior leaders alongside Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Bongi Mbonammbi and others.
Coming to the show in 2016 for the Rugby Championship, Marx has stayed with the national side since then. His debut came in a disappointing game in September 2016 when they lost to the All Blacks.
The following year, in 2017, Malcolm Marx was already a key player within the Springbok rankings. The following year, he was nominated for the Player of the Year award, though he lost. He went on to win the Rugby World Cup in 2019 as one of the best players.
He also won several trophies with the Springboks until becoming the double World Cup Winner in 2023. However, this was a disappointing tournament, as he suffered a serious knee injury that kept him off for most of it.
In addition to the Rugby World Cups, Malcolm Marx also won three Rugby Championships in 2019, 2024, and 2025. Summing up his top talent, Malcolm Marx finally won the 2025 Rugby Player of the Year. He won the prestigious award, beating top stars like Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ox Nché, and France’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
MALCOLM MARX’S LIFESTYLE
Indeed, Malcolm Marx has had a top career that most players dream of, and he lives a luxurious lifestyle as a result.
FAMILY – THE FIRST SUPPORT SYSTEM
The 2025 Rugby Player of the Year grew up with his mother, Bernadine and his brother Jean. His mother was for him, as she was a single mother who worked hard to feed her kids.
Surely, life had not been easy, and his mother and his brother were his only support system. Even now that Malcolm is an established professional, his mother and brother still support him. They come to games and spend time together at home with their wife and kids.
MALCOLM MARX’S WIFE AND CHILDREN
Coming from a supportive family, Malcolm Marx married the love of his life, Kirsten Grant. Indeed, the two had nursed their relationship for a long time since High School.
Since getting married in 2021, Malcolm Marx and Kirsten have had two children. Their firstborn is Kenna, their daughter, and their lastborn, Jake Justin, is a boy.
When it came to spending time together, the Marx family loved the water. Whenever Malcolm gets some time off, weather permitting, he goes to the beach with his family.
They also love to go out to eat some good food together. Unlike some top athletes, Malcolm is not much of a social media guy. However, below are his social handles.
Instagram: malcolm_marx
X: M_marxi2
WHAT’S THE TALK WITH MALCOLM MARX’S TATTOO?
Malcolm Marx’s back tattoo has made headlines in rugby circles. The talented hooker left fans talking after spotting the detailed back tattoo in Dublin, taking off his jersey.
It is a black-and-grey realism mural that blends religious and classical imagery: a large cross in the clouds and a winged angel figure. It also shows a statue-like face alongside Colosseum-style arches and columns, shaded like a dramatic movie scene.
What makes it feel special is the scale (it covers almost his entire back) and the depth of the shading and linework, which stand out even in a sport where many players have ink.
Marx also has heavy tattoo work on his arms, so the back piece fits a broader “full collection” look. He hasn’t publicly explained the personal meaning in detail, so most of the buzz is about the artwork itself and how striking it looks.
GYM ROUTINE, HEIGHT, WEIGHT AND PLAYING STYLE
Outside of what people see in the pitch, a dominant setpiece forward and also a top loose forward. Malcolm Marx is a player with a lot of physicality to his game. He acts mainly as a dominant carrier thanks to his perfect size: 116 kg and 1.89 m.
Marx is also one of the best breakdown specialists as an openside flanker. He is also a setpiece specialist, a reliable and precise lineout thrower with an over 97% success rate.
On top of it all, Malcolm Marx is well known for his impact off the bench, raising the level of intensity as part of the Springboks’ ‘Bombsquad’ strategy.
Dedicated, serious gym routines back Marx’s playing style, as he frequently demonstrates. He incorporates heavy, compound lifts like deadlifts, squats, and bench presses, combined with Olympic-style lifts (power cleans, hang pulls) to build raw strength and speed.