2 Apr 2013

Japan attracts more top rugby talent

7:02 pm on 2 April 2013

The exodus of New Zealand rugby players to Japan continues with the All Black lock Anthony Boric the latest to announce a move, while Hurricanes prop Ben May is also heading to Japan.

The Blues veteran Borich, who's only just overcome a long-term neck injury, will leave to join with Japanese team Mitsubishi DynaBoars at the conclusion of the Super Rugby season on a two-year deal.

May's joining the Sanix club, also on a two-year deal at the end of Super Rugby.

The former All Blacks first five and World Cup hero Stephen Donald will leave Bath at the end of the season to also join Mitsubishi, after two years at the English club.

The All Black centre Richard Kahui and fellow Chiefs player Lelia Masaga announced recently they were both going to the Honda club in Japan.

There's traffic in the other direction too, and unsurprisingly it's the Highlanders who are again recruiting former All Blacks from Japan, with No.8 Mose Tuiali'i heading to Dunedin as a replacement for the injured Nasi Manu.

Meanwhile, the current All Blacks forwards Wyatt Crockett and Brodie Retallick have re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union and their respective Super Rugby franchises until the end of 2015.

The 30-year-old Crockett, who's been with the Crusaders since 2006, has played 11 tests, while the 21-year-old Chiefs lock Retallick made his All Blacks debut last year playing in all but one of the side's 14 tests.