Often more money with a relaxed playing schedule, a fascinating culture and beautiful food, who can blame international stars enjoying a sabbatical in the Far East?
Often more money with a relaxed playing schedule, a fascinating culture and beautiful food, who can blame international stars enjoying a sabbatical in the Far East?
The latest global star to relocate away from their homeland is All Blacks and Blues' red-hot wing, Mark Tele'a.
But this isn't a player in the twilight of his career, this is a free-scoring flyer at 28 years old that ex-England international Anthony Watson named as the third-best winger in the world when appearing on the "For The Love of Rugby" podcast.
Who could forget Tele'a's audacious finish at Allianz Stadium last autumn in New Zealand's triumph over England? (Which as you can see below is even better with Spanish commentary)
An impressive strike rate of 13 tries in 19 caps says a lot about a potent finisher who was often ignored during previous regimes.
Telea'a played a pivotal part in the Blues' 2024 Super Rugby triumph, ending the Auckland franchise's 21-year trophy drought. He's a Blues legend, having lit up the Southern Hemisphere premier competition since his emergence in 2020.
The hometown hero's loss for New Zealand Rugby will be a significant one, but numerous exports have spoken out over the appealing lifestyle in Japan being too good to turn down.
Easier on the body
Japan Rugby League One's season runs from December to May and comprises just 16 regular season games.
The rugby is more free-flowing than the attritional, brutal hits on the body seen elsewhere, therefore, the risk of picking up injuries is considerably less.
But Japan Rugby League One shouldn't be taken for a second-rate competition with little public interest. 56,486 fans attended last year's final, while the games averaged 9,174 per match. For context, the average URC match had 11,070, and the Premiership had 15,358, showing Japan’s not far behind.
Telea'a will join a long list of stars to have played in Japan
Freddie Burns said the reason he joined Toyota Shoki Shuttles in 2023 was because of the financial security in Japan at a time when Premiership clubs were crumbling into liquidation.
Ardie Savea, Beauden Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Cheslin Kolbe, Pieter Steph du Toit and even the great Dan Carter have enjoyed their Japanese journeys, and I have no doubt Telea'a will too.