@Steven-Harris geez Giovanni Lietuia that’s a blast from the past: I remember he was tipped for big things many years back, and then vanished from my radar.
What’s the scoop on his journey since then?
@Canes4life Solomona has been a star for Wainui in club rugby this season.
Waikato will have a Japanese player too - a halfback from Kobe.
Waikato Rugby is delighted to announce the signing of Japanese international scrum-half Daiki Nakajima, who will join the province for the 2026 Hilux NPC season.
Assuming Roe will play a final season of NPC before leaving for Sale, Nakajima will be the third halfback in the squad (excluding Ratima) along with Rui Farrant.
Waikato will have a Japanese player too - a halfback from Kobe.
Waikato Rugby is delighted to announce the signing of Japanese international scrum-half Daiki Nakajima, who will join the province for the 2026 Hilux NPC season.
Assuming Roe will play a final season of NPC before leaving for Sale, Nakajima will be the third halfback in the squad (excluding Ratima) along with Rui Farrant.
I find it odd that Japanese players get a gig here during the NPC but Japanese based former Wellington players like Perenara, Ieremia, TJay Clarke etc for example can't come back?
Has a deal been done between NZ Rugby and Japan Rugby, why are there so many Japanese players taking up spots in our provincial teams, it seems wrong?
@Yeetyaah I've been thinking about a possible Waikato squad. Leuila could also play 2nd 5, as he has before. Otherwise it would be a Anderson/Tuivailala midfield. With Moorby in the ABs and no LCF I would now expect that Cook-Savage starts at fullback. There could be a few from club rugby that are promoted.
@Canes4life said in NPC 2026:
Waikato will have a Japanese player too - a halfback from Kobe.
Waikato Rugby is delighted to announce the signing of Japanese international scrum-half Daiki Nakajima, who will join the province for the 2026 Hilux NPC season.
Assuming Roe will play a final season of NPC before leaving for Sale, Nakajima will be the third halfback in the squad (excluding Ratima) along with Rui Farrant.
I find it odd that Japanese players get a gig here during the NPC but Japanese based former Wellington players like Perenara, Ieremia, TJay Clarke etc for example can't come back?
Has a deal been done between NZ Rugby and Japan Rugby, why are there so many Japanese players taking up spots in our provincial teams, it seems wrong?
Without doing any research whatsoever - arent the guys we recieve typically younger development players? The Japanese clubs may be happy for these guys to go away and get some experience, while preferring to keep their expensive stars on ice. Wonder if they contribute to salarys for these guys
@DurryMexted said in NPC 2026:
@Canes4life said in NPC 2026:
Waikato will have a Japanese player too - a halfback from Kobe.
Waikato Rugby is delighted to announce the signing of Japanese international scrum-half Daiki Nakajima, who will join the province for the 2026 Hilux NPC season.
Assuming Roe will play a final season of NPC before leaving for Sale, Nakajima will be the third halfback in the squad (excluding Ratima) along with Rui Farrant.
I find it odd that Japanese players get a gig here during the NPC but Japanese based former Wellington players like Perenara, Ieremia, TJay Clarke etc for example can't come back?
Has a deal been done between NZ Rugby and Japan Rugby, why are there so many Japanese players taking up spots in our provincial teams, it seems wrong?
Without doing any research whatsoever - arent the guys we recieve typically younger development players? The Japanese clubs may be happy for these guys to go away and get some experience, while preferring to keep their expensive stars on ice. Wonder if they contribute to salarys for these guys
Exactly this. There's no benefit to the Japanese clubs for their top players that will play week in and week out also getting development minutes in the NPC.
@DurryMexted said in NPC 2026:
@Canes4life said in NPC 2026:
Waikato will have a Japanese player too - a halfback from Kobe.
Waikato Rugby is delighted to announce the signing of Japanese international scrum-half Daiki Nakajima, who will join the province for the 2026 Hilux NPC season.
Assuming Roe will play a final season of NPC before leaving for Sale, Nakajima will be the third halfback in the squad (excluding Ratima) along with Rui Farrant.
I find it odd that Japanese players get a gig here during the NPC but Japanese based former Wellington players like Perenara, Ieremia, TJay Clarke etc for example can't come back?
Has a deal been done between NZ Rugby and Japan Rugby, why are there so many Japanese players taking up spots in our provincial teams, it seems wrong?
Without doing any research whatsoever - arent the guys we recieve typically younger development players? The Japanese clubs may be happy for these guys to go away and get some experience, while preferring to keep their expensive stars on ice. Wonder if they contribute to salarys for these guys
Exactly this. There's no benefit to the Japanese clubs for their top players that will play week in and week out also getting development minutes in the NPC.
There must be a reason we take them on though, because i dont recall many of these guys playing many games. Think Wellington had a halfway decent prop one year but otherwise they tend to be squaddies at best. You'd think they would be preferring to develop NZ based players, so there might be a financial relief function where the Japanese club is still paying them?
Some PUs have relationships with Japanese clubs where they have player exchanges and coaching clinics in Japan. Kobe is obviously Rennie's now-former club, and the new Waikato coach was a coach in Japan himself.
Daiki Nakajima isn't young (30) and was the reserve halfback for Kobe. I can understand this decision if Roe won't be around for the full NPC, and the other more experienced halfback (Marsh) from last year isn't there either. In fact, two other recent Waikato squad halfbacks are now in the NH and Taranaki squads. Farrant is a good young halfback.
Voting is open for this:
