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.
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.
Others made 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.
That's not even including our crop of coaches there too.
Originally from Hamilton, Keagen Faria moved to Japan in March 2019 to play for Ricoh Black Rams.
The 26-year-old outside back is relishing the experience.
"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."
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
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
PANASONIC WILD KNIGHTS
Craig Millar – Otago, Highlanders, Sunwolves
Hadleigh Parkes – Manawatū, Auckland, Blues, Hurricanes, Southern Kings, Wales
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
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
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
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
Emergency services were called to the crash about 3.04pm.