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The 2025-2026 Japan Rugby League One season is well underway, with a couple of rounds played and one to go before a break, which will see the teams return in January 2026. The JRLO saw some exciting international talent join this campaign, with players from around the world heading to Japan. We look at the top 10 international player signings this season and how they have fared so far.
Genichi Tamatsuka, the JRLO Chairman, said, “We are grateful to the international players who are coming to play in Japan and spreading the word to their contemporaries, and fans, about the wonderful experience they have, the high standard of rugby, and the opportunity that exists for their countrymen to come and experience Japan Rugby League One for themselves.”
It is worth noting that the JRLO player eligibility rules mean each club is allowed to register three players who have been capped internationally/played tests for nations other than Japan.
When Ardie Savea made his announcement to return to Japan and the Kobelco Kobe Steelers after just one blockbuster season with Moana Pasifika, it caught many by surprise. Apparently, already agreed with NZRU as part of his sabbatical and will return to Moana Pasifika in 2027.
He said at the time, “I have so much love for what we started with Moana this year so I’m looking forward to coming back in 2027. It’s hard to leave, even though it’s only for one season, but I’ll be supporting the team from afar and will stay involved behind the scenes. This year at Moana Pasifika was the happiest I’ve been in my career.
On the other hand, Japan is a special place, and I love the culture and the people. It’s exciting to return to a club that has given me an opportunity to have beautiful experiences on and off the field.”
The former All Black captain has had a mixed start to the season, being yellow-carded in his first game for dissent as they lost.
The second All Black to join Kobe Steelers is experienced Anton Lienert-Brown, also on a one-year sabbatical with the New Zealand Rugby Union, before he heads back for two years at the Gallagher Chiefs.
At the time of signing, he said, “Leinert-Brown said, “I’m really looking forward to this next chapter in my career – connecting with some old friends from my Chiefs days, meeting new teammates, and immersing myself in Japanese culture. I’ve always loved the warmth of the people and the incredible food, and I can’t wait to experience it all.
He became the 13th All Black to have worn the club’s jersey and has played both games so far (1 start and 1 from the bench), he has scored one try, but like his Kiwi and All Black teammate, Savea, he has already been in the sin bin with a yellow, which might not please former Chiefs teammate and current captain Brodie Retallick.
The Sharks player has 42 caps for SA and said of playing in Japan, “I am very excited to be joining Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars. I look forward to bringing my experience to the team and playing alongside my teammates and fans this season. See you all at the stadium!”
Of his move after 9 years with the Sharks, he commented that he felt the time was right and would give him the best possible chance of forcing his way back into Rassie Erasmus’ Springbok squad.
He said, “When I received the offer this time, I spoke to Kurt-Lee (Arendse) and thought it was a good opportunity for me to contribute to the team, so taking everything into consideration, I decided that it was the right time.”
The two-time RWC winner has played in both games so far this season as his team have won one and lost one thus far, but has yet to score this season.
He previously was in Japan with the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in 2022 and played 6 times.
The most recent big-name signing to Japan was the Kiwi scrumhalf born in Napier before representing Otago, Waikato, and Hawke's Bay in the New Zealand Domestic Rugby League (NPC). He played with the Chiefs in the Super Rugby from 2014 before joining Stade Français Paris in the French Top 14 in 2023.
As an All Black, he has played for his country 18 times, including 3 matches at RWC 2019 in Japan. He has also played in the New Zealand U20 national team, Maori All Blacks and the All Blacks XV.
Funnily enough, two of his rivals for that number 9 jersey for the All Blacks over the years are in Japan too - Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara.
He said, "I'm really happy to be joining the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara DynaBoars this season….Playing a really positive style of rugby, high tempo with control, is something I can't wait to be part of.”
The dangerous wing joined the Japanese club, which had a poor 2024-2025 season and is led by former All Blacks bosses Steve Hansen and Ian Foster.
His move was announced as far back as April 2025, and the decision to move to the JRLO makes him ineligible for future All Blacks selection under current NZ Rugby rules. He has scored 13 tries in 19 Tests and was named World Rugby's breakthrough player of the year in 2023.
He made his All Blacks debut in 2022 and started their Rugby World Cup 2023 final defeat to South Africa. He was also part of the Blues side that won the 2024 Super Rugby title.
Telea said at the time of his move, “It’s been an amazing ride, so many fantastic memories and amazing people… But after much thought, I have decided that from next year I will play my rugby in Japan.”
The 28-year-old has played in both games this season as Toyota Verblitz have won one and lost one too so far.
Once considered one of the best players on the planet, after club stints in France (Lyon, Bordeaux) and with the Bristol Bears in the English Prem - he joined the JRLO and is reunited with former All Black Charles Piutau, whom he played with in England.
With an Olympic gold medal wrapped up and two Rugby World Cup 15s appearances for Fiji, he is likely to feature more for the national side as he will have less club pressure (he was initially named in the Fiji Pacific Nations Cup squad before picking up an injury).
When he announced the move, he said: “It’s an honour to be joining the Blue Revs - Playing in the Japan League One has been a goal of mine, and I’m excited that I get to join a top club like Blue Revs. I’m extremely motivated and will give my all to add to the team.”
Radradra has already made an impact by scoring in his one game played this season, as his side has also lost and won a game, but thanks to their two bonus points are sitting in 4th place on the log.
The mercurial talent is one of the leading choices to start for the World champion Springboks and featured in several test matches in 2025.
Our question to Bok Coach Rassie Erasmus which has since been picked up by media globally, he said of the move for Libbok, ““Manie [Libbok] is playing in the B division in Japan [for the Kintetsu Liners], but we know what he can do, and he’s being coached by [former Wallabies] Quade Cooper [attack] and Will Genia [skills], so there’s a lot of positives there for us.”
Will Genia said of having Libbok in the pre-season, “Manie is a world-class player, we all see the game the same way, but then it’s a case of him being on the field, it’s about sharing consistent messages of what we’re seeing and then for them to be executed.
He brings a wealth of knowledge from his experiences, which enables him to be able to try new things and to take on board the ideas we have.”
One-cap All Black Peter Umaga-Jensen made the move to Japan and was named co-captain for the side, which includes Quade Cooper and Will Genia among the coaching staff this season.
He has scored one try in the team’s two wins this season as they top Division 2
His twin brother Thomas Umaga Jensen (Highlanders) also signed for competing Division 1 side Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi, and they have already squared off once this season in their opening debut. He said of playing and beating his twin brother, “I think it's quite miraculous. It's not often that twins get their first cap in the same game. It was a special game for both of us, and I think it was an extremely special game for our family as well."
After they won the second game, which was their first at home, he added, “The people around Higashi-Osaka really love rugby, and I felt that it is a region with a deep connection to rugby. I could clearly hear the cheers of the fans and local people, so it was a very good environment to play in."
The Australian suffered a neck injury in a Test match against Fiji in July, which ruled him out of the British and Irish Lions series as well as the Rugby Championship this year.
He has had a tough run and treatment with Australia, whom he has represented 23 times. He made his international debut for the Wallabies in 2020 and was dropped by coach Eddie Jones in 2023, who instead selected Ben Donaldson and Carter Gordon. Joe Schmidt, however, picked him to start nine out of 14 Tests in 2024.
He signed a deal in Japan that includes an option for a second year, following his departure from the Brumbies. Since it was announced that he would be heading to Japan in April 2025, he has not featured for the Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi across the opening two rounds in Division 2.
The 25-year-old said, “I am very excited to join Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi. I moved from Australia and have been looking forward to being part of a new rugby community in Japan. I have heard great things about the team culture and team spirit. I am looking forward to meeting everyone, training hard, and contributing on and off the field. I am also looking forward to learning about Japanese rugby and the unique style of play here.
With his club having tasted defeat once and won once, they sit in third in Division 2.
He has played in Japan several times on short-term contracts and has joined from RFC Los Angeles in the MLR.
He was previously with the Japanese club for the 2018–2019 season. Located at Kariya in the Aichi prefecture, where the team trains, Shuttles Aichi are based near Nagoya and play their matches at the Mizuho Rugby Stadium in the city.
The 38-year-old also featured for Samoa at this year's Pacific Nations Cup. The Wallaby and Samoa veteran started off the bench in the opening loss and the second match win. The club won Division 2 last season but missed out on promotion after losing the two-leg promotion/relegation play-off to Urayasu D-Rocks.
