TJ Perenara holds the ball in the Japan Rugby Top League 2021 match between NTT DOCOMO Red Hurricanes and NEC Green Rockets. Photo / AFLO / www.photosport.nz
TJ Perenara holds the ball in the Japan Rugby Top League 2021 match between NTT DOCOMO Red Hurricanes and NEC Green Rockets. Photo / AFLO / www.photosport.nz
Over the years many New Zealand rugby players have made their way to Japan to continue their careers, usually as either sabbaticals or before retirement.
Some end up playing for the Brave Blossoms national team. The names Karne Hesketh, James Arlidge, Andrew McCormick and Andy Miller come to mind.
Othersmade the move at the start of their careers like recently retired Japanese captain Luke Thompson, who played two games for Canterbury in 2003 and found himself stuck behind other locks Chris Jack, Brad Thorn and Norm Maxwell.
He headed over to Japan and amassed 71 International caps from 2007-2019 - taking part in four Rugby World Cups.
Whether they are there for a long or short stint, there are in excess of 90 players to have played in New Zealand or consider themselves New Zealanders, playing in the Japan Top League this season.
"Playing club footy back home to playing in the Japan Top League is a huge step up for obvious reasons [professional environment, trainings, skill set]," said Faria.
"I'm loving everything about Japan and the rugby here, especially how much I learn from the players and coaches around me at Ricoh Black Rams."
Keagen Faria in the match between Panasonic Wild Knights and Ricoh Black Rams at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo. Photo / AFLO / www.photosport.nz
NEW ZEALANDERS IN THE JAPAN TOP LEAGUE: Players in italics haven't played above club or school level in New Zealand.
KINTETSU LINERS David Milo Jed Brown – Canterbury, Tasman, Crusaders, Blues Semisi Masirewa – Waikato, Manawatū, Western Force, Sunwolves
KOBELCO STEELERS Tom Franklin – Otago, Bay of Plenty, Highlanders, NZ Māori Brodie Retallick – Hawke's Bay, Chiefs, All Blacks Brodi McCurran Aaron Cruden – Manawatū, Hurricanes, Chiefs, All Blacks Hayden Parker – Otago, Highlanders, Sunwolves Richard Buckman – Hawke's Bay, Hurricanes, Highlanders Ben Smith – Otago, Highlanders, All Blacks
MUNAKATA SANIX BLUES Jarred Adams – Counties Manukau, Auckland, Sunwolves Mark Abbott – Canterbury, Hawke's Bay, Hurricanes, Sunwolves Dan Pryor – Northland, Blues, Highlanders, Sunwolves, NZ Māori Jason Emery – Manawatū, Highlanders, Sunwolves, NZ Māori Karne Hesketh – Otago, Japan
Matt Todd in the Japan Rugby Top League 2021 match between Toshiba Brave Lupus and Kubota Spears at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo. Photo / AFLO / www.photosport.nz
NTT DOCOMO RED HURRICANES TJ Perenara – Wellington, Hurricanes, All Blacks Marty Banks – Buller, Tasman, Hurricanes, Highlanders Tom Marshall – Tasman, Crusaders, Chiefs
NEC GREEN ROCKETS Jack Lam – Tasman, Waikato, Hurricanes, Samoa Andrew Kellaway – Counties Manukau, Waratahs, Rebels Tino Nemani – Hawke's Bay, Bay of Plenty, Chiefs, Highlanders
NTT COMMUNICATIONS SHINING ARCS Leilua Murphy Sekonaia Pole – Otago, Highlanders Jimmy Tupou – Counties Manukau, Crusaders, Blues Anaru Rangi – Western Force, Rebels Christian Lealiifano – Waikato, Australia Piri Paraone – Wellington Fletcher Smith – Otago, Waikato, Highlanders, Hurricanes, NZ Māori
RICOH BLACK RAMS Ben Funnell – Canterbury, Crusaders Daymon Leasuasu – Counties Manukau, Chiefs, NZ Marist Jacob Skeen – Waikato, NZ Maori Michael Broadhurst – Poverty Bay, NZ Heartland, Japan Elliot Dixon – Southland, Highlanders, NZ Māori, All Blacks Matt McGahan – North Harbour, Blues, Reds Robbie Robinson – Southland, North Harbour, Highlanders, Chiefs, Sunwolves, NZ Māori Keagen Faria
Jack Stratton in the Japan Rugby Top League match between Toyota Verblitz and Toshiba Brave Lupus. Photo / AFLO / www.photosport.nz
SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH Joe Latta – Wellington, Otago, Highlanders Jordan Smiler – Waikato, Brumbies Richard Judd – Thames Valley, Counties Manukau, Bay of Plenty, Hurricanes Beauden Barrett – Taranaki, Hurricanes, Blues, All Blacks Tevita Li – North Harbour, Blues, Highlanders
Beauden Barrett lines up a kick in the match between Honda HEAT and Suntory Sungoliath at Suzuka Sports Garden, Mie, Japan. Photo / AFLO / www.photosport.nz
TOSHIBA BRAVE LUPUS Michael Leitch – Chiefs, Sunwolves, Japan Matt Todd – Canterbury, Crusaders, All Blacks Jack Stratton – Canterbury, Waikato, Crusaders Tim Bateman – Canterbury, Wellington, Crusaders, Hurricanes, NZ Māori Tom Taylor – Canterbury, Crusaders, All Blacks Johnny Fa'auli – Counties Manukau, Taranaki, Chiefs Seta Tamanivalu – Taranaki, Chiefs, Crusaders, All Blacks
TOYOTA VERBLITZ Michael Allardice – Canterbury, Hawke's Bay, Chiefs Kieran Read – Canterbury, Counties Manukau, Crusaders, All Blacks Tiaan Falcon – Hawke's Bay, Chiefs Charlie Lawrence Male Sa'u – Counties Manukau, Blues, Rebels, Japan Rob Thompson – Canterbury, Manawatū, Crusaders, Highlanders, NZ Māori
Male Sa'u in the Japan Rugby Top League match between Toyota Verblitz and Toshiba Brave Lupus
at Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium, Aichi, Japan. Photo / AFLO / www.photosport.nz
TOYOTA INDUSTRIES SHUTTLES Michael Curry – Tasman Taleni Seu – Auckland, Chiefs Tusi Pisi – North Harbour, Crusaders, Hurricanes, Sunwolves, Samoa Levi Aumua – Tasman, Blues
HONDA HEAT Tetuhi Roberts Shaun Treeby – Wellington, North Harbour, Highlanders, Stormers Matt Duffie – North Harbour, Blues, All Blacks, Melbourne Storm
YAMAHA JÚBILO Murray Douglas – Northland, Hurricanes, Rebels, Brumbies Viliami Tahitu'a – Northland, Tonga James Dargaville – North Harbour, Brumbies, Sunwolves Malo Tuitama – Wellington
Shaun Treeby in the match between NTT Communications Shining Arcs and Honda HEAT at Yumenoshima Stadium in Tokyo. Photo / AFLO / www.photosport.nz
HINO RED DOLPHINS Liaki Moli – Auckland, Blues, Sunwolves Nili Latu – Marlborough, Bay of Plenty, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Pacific Islanders, Tonga Ash Parker – Canterbury Augustine Pulu – Counties Manukau, Chiefs, Blues, All Blacks Hayden Cripps – Wellington, Tasman, Sunwolves Jack Debreczeni – Northland, Chiefs, Rebels Chance Peni – Western Force, Brumbies Gillies Kaka – Hawke's Bay
MITSUBISHI DYNABOARS Jackson Hemopo – Otago, Manawatū, Highlanders, NZ Māori, All Blacks Heiden Bedwell-Curtis – Taranaki, Manawatū, Crusaders, Hurricanes, NZ Māori Nick Ealey – Otago Colin Slade – Canterbury, Crusaders, Highlanders, Junior All Blacks, All Blacks James Wilson – Southland, Highlanders, Chiefs Michael Little – North Harbour, Sunwolves Matt Vaega – North Harbour, Blues Ben Paltridge Alaia'sa Roland
