Whaka help dream come true

Japan's Junichi Inoue (third from front right) and wife Yuiko Inoue pictured with the Whakarewarewa rugby team after a pre-season game last month. Photo / Supplied

Japan's Junichi Inoue got more than he bargained for when he visited Rotorua in March.

The huge rugby and All Blacks supporter visited Rotorua with his family last month during a trip to New Zealand. Inoue plays club rugby in Yokkaichi, Japan, and one of his life ambitions was to play a game of rugby in New Zealand -- the home of the mighty All Blacks.

One of Rotorua's premier clubs, Whakarewarewa, got behind the idea and gave him game time during a pre-season match against Clive Rugby Club from Hawke's Bay.

Inoue and Whaka won the match 40-12.

Inoue was also presented with a jersey by club great Reverend Bob Schuster, who captained the club in the 1950s. Schuster gave Inoue one of his prized Whaka jerseys. Inoue and his wife Yuiko were both on hand to receive the jersey.

Inoue is a huge supporter of the All Blacks and has collected plenty of jerseys, rugby balls and memorabilia over the years.

His three boys Kento, 9, Eito, 7, and Raito, 5, all play rugby in Japan as well.