The Japan team celebrates after former Otago player Karne Hesketh scores the winning try against South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Photo / Onside Images
Over the years many Kiwi rugby players have headed of overseas in search of a new home to play their rugby.
Some may feel like they're on the outer in New Zealand, they're taking a sabbatical or looking to earn some extra cash before the end of their career.
After three years, many qualify for the country they are playing in due to residency, as long as they haven't represented another international team previously.
Japan has many Kiwis playing in their Top League, so this has happened many times over the years for the Brave Blossoms.
Former Japanese fullback Bryce Robins played for Taranaki, the Hurricanes and New Zealand Māori before heading off to Japan.
"I was young and just starting out my career in New Zealand playing through NPC, Super 12 and NZ Māori. It wasn't until I missed selection for the Hurricanes that the opportunity to play in Japan came up," he said.
"The rugby in New Zealand was and still is the best in the world. I really loved playing here, but the chance to play in Japan was such a good opportunity I couldn't miss."
The first team that Robins played for in Japan was Ricoh Black Rams with former All Blacks Eroni Clarke and Glen Osborne.
"They made my first year so awesome and fun that I ended up playing 16 years," said Robins.
"The game has evolved so much since then, Japan were years behind New Zealand in player development, but have since closed the gap.
"The highlight of my career? There were so many rugby moments but I think for me it's the people I have met and lifelong friendships gained, also for myself and family to have travelled the world with rugby."
The following XV are players who have played rugby in New Zealand as well as internationally for Japan.
All started their careers in New Zealand except for Shota Horie, Hiroshi Yamashita and Fumiaki Tanaka who came over to play here before returning to Japan.
New Zealand Japan XV: (*still active)
1. CRAIG MILLAR - Otago/Highlanders/Sunwolves
Born: 1990
Provincial caps: 45
Super Rugby caps: 28
Test caps: 1* (2021)
Test points: 0
Test debut: 2021 v Ireland
Millar played 45 times for Otago and 10 for the Highlanders before Sunwolves coach Jamie Joseph announced that Millar would join his squad ahead of the 2018 Super Rugby season alongside several other former Highlanders.
He played for them for two seasons.
In 2021, Millar made his international debut for Japan against Ireland.
2. SHOTA HORIE - Otago/Melbourne Rebels/Sunwolves
Born: 1986
Provincial caps: 11
Super Rugby caps: 44
Test caps: 66 (2009-2019)
Test points: 50
Test debut: 2009 v Canada
In 2012, Horie played for Otago in the NPC where he attracted the attention of the Melbourne Rebels and they announced Horie's signing to play Super Rugby for them.
The following year, he became the first Japanese player to play for an Australian Super Rugby team.
A Japanese stalwart, Horie played for his country for a decade.
3. HIROSHI YAMASHITA - Chiefs/Sunwolves
Born: 1986
Provincial caps: -
Super Rugby caps: 21
Test caps: 51 (2009-2018)
Test points: 0
Test debut: 2009 v Kazakhstan
Yamashita played over 50 times for Japan from 2009-2018 and attended the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
In 2016, he started nine games at prop for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and went on to play for the Sunwolves in 2019.
4. LUKE THOMPSON - Canterbury/Sunwolves
Born: 1981
Provincial caps: 2
Super Rugby caps: 8
Test caps: 71 (2007-2019)
Test points: 45
Test debut: 2007 v Hong Kong
Thompson started his career with Canterbury but behind Brad Thorn and Chris Jack it was a hard road so he made the move to Japan.
In 2007, he qualified through residency to play for Japan and went on to play at four Rugby World Cups before retiring after the 2019 tournament. In the 2007 tournament he scored a brace of tries in the win against Fiji.
In 2019, at 37 years and 306 days, Thompson was the oldest player to make his Super Rugby debut for the Sunwolves.
His sister Anna Kennedy is a former Silver Ferns netball player.
Their father David was a stalwart lock/loose forward of Canterbury rugby in the 1970s.
5. MICHAEL BROADHURST - Poverty Bay/New Zealand Heartland XV
Born: 1986
Provincial caps: 10
Super Rugby caps: -
Test caps: 26 (2012-2015)
Test points: 35
Test debut: 2012 v Romania
Michael Broadhurst, brother of former All Black James Broadhurst, started his career in 2008 with Poverty Bay in the Heartland Championship and was then selected for the New Zealand Heartland XV.
Broadhurst could cover lock, flanker and No. 8.
In 2013, Broadhurst started at flanker for Japan and scored tries in both matches of the two test matches against Wales, helping Japan to their first ever victory over Wales in the latter match.
Ricoh Black Rams announced early this month (August 2021) that Broadhurst would be leaving after playing for them since 2010.
6. JAMIE JOSEPH - Otago/Māori All Blacks/All Blacks
Born: 1969
Provincial caps: 68
Super Rugby caps: -
Test caps: 29 (20 All Blacks) (1992-1999)
Test points: 15
Test debut: 1992 v World XV (All Blacks)
Coming from a strong rugby family, Joseph's late father Jim was a prop for the Marlborough rugby team from 1963 to 1977 appearing 142 times for the Red Devils.
Father and son both represented the New Zealand Māori.
Joseph's great-uncle Jack Macdonald competed in rowing at the 1930 Empire Games, winning gold in the coxed fours, and at the 1932 Summer Olympics, one of the first two Māori Olympians ever.
He also played rugby for New Zealand Māori from 1926-1935 and rugby league in England from 1935-1939.
Former Southland, Highlanders, Melbourne Rebels and New Zealand Māori forward Hoani MacDonald is also a cousin of Joseph's.
Joseph is the current coach of the Japanese team after coaching many teams previous.
7. GLEN MARSH - Counties Manukau/Chiefs/Māori All Blacks
Born: 1972
Provincial caps: 40
Super Rugby caps: 30
Test caps: 3 (2007)
Test points: 0
Test debut: 2007 v Australia A
After the 2000 season Glen Marsh headed offshore, like his twin brother Tony (a French international player), did several years previous.
Marsh stayed with Counties Manukau during hard times for the union and was a consistent performer for them as well as the Chiefs.
The loose forward spent 10 years in Japan and played for NEC.
He played three games for Japan under John Kirwan and was ready to play for them at the 2007 Rugby World Cup before the International Rugby Board ruled him ineligible because of an appearance for New Zealand A.
He coached NEC for two seasons, before returning to New Zealand in 2011 with his family where he is now a director/risk adviser at D.Risk Ltd in Auckland.
8. MICHAEL LEITCH - Chiefs/Sunwolves
Born: 1988
Provincial caps: -
Super Rugby caps: 42
Test caps: 69* (2008-Present)
Test points: 95
Test debut: 2008 v United States
Born in Christchurch to a Kiwi father and a Fijian mother, Leitch went to Sapporo Yamanote High School in Sapporo, Japan, in 2004, at the age of 15 as part of St Bede's College (Christchurch) school exchange program.
In 2008, after finishing school he went to Tokai University and also captained the Japan Under 20 side at the Junior World Championship.
In 2013 he moved to Hamilton, New Zealand, to join the Gallagher Chiefs wider training squad but didn't play due to injury.
Two years later he made his Chiefs debut and went on to play 34 times for them and become a regular starter.
He became the second New Zealand-born player to lead Japan after former Canterbury player Andrew McCormick.
There is a statue of Leitch in a park in Tokyo. He has had a big influence on rugby in Japan and is still their captain in 2021.
At the 2015 Rugby World Cup he led Japan to a famous victory over the Springboks followed by wins over Ireland and Scotland at the 2019 tournament where they qualified for the quarterfinals for the first time ever.
9. FUMIAKI TANAKA - Otago/Highlanders/Sunwolves
Born: 1985
Provincial caps: 25
Super Rugby caps: 69
Test caps: 75 (2008-2019)
Test points: 40
Test debut: 2008 v Arabian Gulf
Tanaka credits former All Black Tony Brown as one of the most important influences on his career.
In 2007, when he joined Panasonic Wild Knights, he played alongside Brown.
After the 2011 Rugby World Cup he signed with Otago, along with hooker Shota Horie, by who else but Tony Brown, who then became his coach.
Tanaka was called a world-class player and regarded as a cult hero for Otago.
He became the first Japanese player to sign a Super Rugby contract when named in the 2013 Highlanders squad, and supposedly the smallest player to ever play Super Rugby.
Tanaka represented the Highlanders until 2016, appearing 46 times for them before playing for the Sunwolves from 2017-2019
He was another influential player for Japan having represented them for over a decade and in Japan's 2015 Rugby World Cup win over South Africa he was awarded man of the match.
10. JAMES ARLIDGE - Auckland/Northland/Blues/Highlanders/Māori All Blacks
Born: 1979
Provincial caps: 28
Super Rugby caps: 20
Test caps: 32 (2007-2011)
Test points: 286
Test debut: 2007 v Korea
Arlidge made his Super Rugby debut for the Blues in 2001 before even making his first appearance in provincial rugby.
He started the provincial season with Auckland that year but was loaned to Northland for the remainder.
Before heading to Japan, Arlidge played for the New Zealand Māori in their 2003 North America tour.
Arlidge was first selected for Japan by John Kirwan in 2007, scoring two tries and 10 conversions on debut against South Korea.
He also played for them at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
11. GEORGE KONIA - Manawatū/Hawke's Bay/Southland/Hurricanes/Māori All Blacks
Born: 1969
Provincial caps: 116
Super Rugby caps: 7
Test caps: 6 (2003)
Test points: 10
Test debut: 2003 v United States
Current Northland Taniwha head coach Konia was another player to represent New Zealand Māori before heading to Japan.
He also played seven matches for the Hurricanes in their maiden season and 116 NPC games across three provinces (Hawke's Bay, Manawatū and Southland).
A midfielder/winger, Konia played for eight years in Japan and played six games for the Brave Blossoms in 2003.
He attended the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia and played alongside another former Hurricane, Reuben Parkinson.
12. RYAN NICHOLAS - Otago/Highlanders/Māori All Blacks
Born: 1979
Provincial caps: 36
Super Rugby caps: 31
Test caps: 38 (2008-2012)
Test points: 193
Test debut: 2008 v Korea
Nicholas is an Australian-born Japanese player of Cook Islands-Māori heritage.
He played for Japan from 2008-2012 before retiring from international rugby.
Nicholas continued to play for Suntory Goliath in the Japan Top League until 2015 where he amassed 1336 points from 120 appearances.
His last team was Mitsubishi Dynaboars.
13. ALISI TUPUAILEI - Canterbury
Born: 1982
Provincial caps: 16
Super Rugby caps: -
Test caps: 20 (2009-2011)
Test points: 105
Test debut: 2009 v Canada
Samoan-born Japanese rugby player Alisi Tupuailei played for the Canterbury NPC team in 2002-2003 scoring 11 tries from his 16 appearances.
A winger/centre, Tupuailei represented Japan in both sevens and 15s. He made his Rugby World Cup debut in 2011 and also played at the 2012 Hong Kong Sevens.
In his 20 appearances for the national 15s team he crossed the line 21 times.
14. KARNE HESKETH - Otago
Born: 1985
Provincial caps: 35
Super Rugby caps: -
Test caps: 16 (2014-2016)
Test points: 35
Test debut: 2014 v Romania
Most memorably, Hesketh scored the winning try for Japan against South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Before living in Japan, Hesketh played 35 times for Otago from 2006-2009 scoring 14 tries.
Hesketh's partner is Waikato Farah Palmer Cup star and former Black Fern Carla Hohepa.
In 2021, Hesketh, 35, turned out for Te Awamutu Sports Development in the Waikato.
15. BRYCE ROBINS - Taranaki/Hurricanes/Māori All Blacks
Born: 1980
Provincial caps: 31
Super Rugby caps: 4
Test caps: 25 (2007-2011)
Test points: 72
Test debut: 2007 v Korea
OTHER NOTABLE PLAYERS:
Graeme Bachop - Canterbury/All Blacks
Kosuke Endo - Canterbury
Rob Gordon - Otago/Waikato/All Blacks
Kazuki Himeno - Sunwolves/Highlanders
Hayden Hopgood - Canterbury/Hurricanes/Chiefs
Hare Makiri - Counties Manukau/Chiefs/Māori All Blacks
Semisi Masirewa - Manawatū/Waikato/Western Force/Sunwolves
Andrew McCormick - Canterbury
Andy Miller - Bay of Plenty/Southland/Crusaders
Ataata Moeakiola - Chiefs
Naoya Okubo - Southland
Adam Parker - South Canterbury/Nelson Bays/Māori All Blacks
Reuben Parkinson - Otago/Bay of Plenty/Highlanders/Hurricanes
Shaun Webb - Canterbury/Otago
Murray Williams - Auckland/Bay of Plenty/Mid Canterbury/Chiefs
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