Rugby: Japanese pair to boost maroons

Yoshihito Sato and Seiyu Kohara will play for Taradale in Hawke's Bay's premier club rugby competition which begins today. Photo/Duncan Brown

One had to chuckle when Japanese rugby player Yoshihito Sato outlined his mission in Hawke's Bay.

Speaking through an interpreter, Yumi Grenside of Taradale High School, Sato said he has been sent to the Bay by his Docomo Red Hurricanes Top League team to learn more about calling the plays, communication and the overall organisation of a match. When it was put to first five-eighth Sato this could prove to be a difficult challenge considering his limited grasp of English.

"It's going to be really hard and while communication is a problem it's my main focus here. My coach has told me he doesn't want me to waste my three months here."

Sato, 27, and Japanese Sevens winger and Toyota Verblitz Top League player Seiyu Kohara, 24, are on a 12-month Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union Global Academy stint and they will also play for Taradale in Hawke's Bay's Tui Nash Cup premier club competition which begins today.

Sato has the tough task of filling the gap vacated by Scottish pivot Gregor McNeish who played a major role in Carters Frame and Truss Taradale's march to the 2016 Maddison Trophy final. While former Chief and Magpies utility back Andrew Horrell is training with Taradale after returning from his contract with Japanese club Coca Cola, he is still awaiting a clearance in the wake of his concussion issue.

Because Taradale's only pre-season game against Te Puke was rained off, today's match against Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical at Whitmore Park will be the Japanese pair's first for the Tareha Reserve-based team. Kohara, who is far more advanced with his English than Sato, said movement off the ball and improving his defence are his biggest work-ons.

"If I can tackle any Kiwi who runs my way I will be able to tackle anybody back home," Kohara said with a grin.

He was nicknamed "Rain Boy" by Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union's player development manager Joe Payton because it rained in the Bay for almost three days after his arrival in the province a fortnight ago.

"A few of the Taradale boys sing Lionel Richie's song Say You Say Me when they are around me because it reminds them of my surname," Kohara said.

Like Sato, Kohara is enjoying the Kiwi kai.

"Roast lamb and fish and chips are my favourite meals," Kohara said.

The pair, who have been overwhelmed with Kiwi hospitality, are eagerly awaiting the Hurricanes Super Rugby match against the Brumbies at Napier's McLean Park on April 21.
"We watch the Hurricanes every weekend on television back home when they are playing," Kohara said.

Although they have yet to see the Texans play they have heard they are a good side this season. With two key members of the Mighty Maroons teams of recent seasons, loosie Kaleb Sweet and utility back Uta Tupuola, transferring to Tech this season extra spice will be added to the occasion.

As part of their Global Academy stint the Japanese pair, who like McNeish are being hosted by the Taradale club's chairman Tim Combs and his wife and club administrator Paula Combs, get to train with the Magpies' wider training group and the Hawke's Bay academy squad.

They also study English at EIT during the day and in the evenings they train with the academy squad or the Taradale club. They have visited Wellington with an EIT group and they have had a taste of white water rafting on the Mohaka River.

Taradale's head coach and former Magpies captain Jason Shoemark has been impressed with the pair's work ethic and keenness to absorb everything about New Zealand rugby.
"I'm sure they will do well for us. It's a pity we won't have them for the full season," Shoemark said.

While Tupuola and Sweet's departures will be major blows for Taradale, MAC will struggle to repeat last year's second placing in the Nash Cup after losing Magpies prop Mason Kean to Tamatea and halfback Colin Hokianga, first five-eighth Harris Solomon and lock Teina Huia to Australia.

Hastings Rugby and Sports will miss the services of last year's club MVP, midfield back Neria Fomai, who has transferred to Southland and former New Zealand under-20 rep Star Timu who is injured. It will be interesting to see if Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports remains a top-four outfit in the absence of experienced pivot David Neilson who is in Australia, former captain Marcus Donovan who has retired, 2016 Magpies utility back Matt Garland who has transferred to Bay of Plenty and workaholic loosie Pouvi Fatialofa who has work commitments.

Other games today will see defending champions and hot favourites Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist host MAC at Park Island, Progressive Meats Havelock North take on Tamatea at Anderson Park, Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports host Northfuels Central at Elwood Park and Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports host K9 Petfoods Clive at Tamatea Park.

■ Teams - Page 22.