One goal down, another season ahead.
Spencer Jeans has completed his Bachelor of Business at Bond University while building a professional rugby career in Japan, where he is preparing for another season with Kyuden Voltex.
As Bond University celebrates its graduates on Thursday, October 15, Jeans will mark the milestone from Fukuoka, Japan, with his next rugby campaign just around the corner.
Kyuden Voltex is gearing up for a pre-season test against Yokohama Canon Eagles on October 30, with competition rounds approaching in December.
“To be honest, if you told me when I started with the club that I was going to be four years into living in Japan, I wouldn’t have believed you,” he said.
A broken leg disrupted Jeans’s final season with the Queensland Reds in 2023 before a former coach opened the door to Japan, where the scrum-half joined Kyuden Voltex on an initial one-year deal.
“I was kind of just filling up a spot until the end of the season,” he said.
“They let me play one game, and I played really well. I got player of the match, and they ended up keeping me.”
For a foreign player in a competition with limited selections, earning a place is one thing. Keeping it is another.
“Sometimes there are pressures around foreign player selection. It can depend on more than our form,” he said.
“There are limits on overseas players, and it can leave even the best in their position on the sidelines – it’s just the fine print of it all, so it’s nice to hear from a coach you’ve got their support.”
Backed by head coach Yuuki Imamura, who helped guide Kyuden Voltex to Division Two, Jeans found the freedom to play to his strengths.
“He is just really big on me being me,” he said.
“Yuuki told me, the reason we’ve picked you and the reason we play you is because of who you are. Don’t try to be anyone else.”
For Jeans, Japan has been a lesson in embracing difference.
“Since moving here, my idea of what a rugby career is has really, really changed,” he said.
“The big dream was always to play for the Wallabies back home and win a World Cup scenario. If that opportunity ever came up, I’d have to take it.”
Japan has its own World Cup ambitions.
With the Japan Rugby Football Union submitting a bid to enter the selection process to host the 2035 tournament earlier this month, Jeans’s time in Japan could offer opportunities beyond the field, too.
At Kyuden Voltex, Jeans’s teammates balance elite rugby with their workload at Kyushu Electric Power.
“You come into a culture like this, see how they go about life – a lot of these boys work massive hours for the company we play for,” he said.
Particularly struck by his teammates’ work ethic, Jeans believes the experience will inform his approach to his future career in business.
“You can’t really get a grasp on some of these things unless you go live it. I did my business model execution in my last semester, it reinforced that not everything will work in different places.”
The John Eales Rugby Excellence Scholarship holder was able to pursue professional rugby while completing his degree.
“I’ve been able to live out both of my dreams, being able to move exams and receive exemptions, whilst having the opportunities to play as well.
“The biggest thing was the freedom and reassurance Bond gave me.”
Whether in Japan, Australia or elsewhere, the graduate wants to keep playing at the highest level he can, for as long as he can.
“I love playing rugby, just being in an environment where I add good value and enjoy doing it is my biggest goal.”
Kyuden finished last season with a 31-25 win over the Hino Red Dolphins at Kurokiri Stadium in Miyazaki.
Known as the Chargers, Kyuden Voltex has a passionate following, with supporters making their presence felt well beyond the stands.
“The fans are nuts, they love you, and they love the club,” he said.
“I told one fan that I drink coffee, now I only get gifted Starbucks vouchers and coffee beans.”
With another season ahead, Jeans is focused on making the most of the opportunity.
“Team’s looking good, body’s feeling good,” he said.
“I’ll throw everything at it.”