Ex-All Blacks head coach Ian Foster has named his former New Zealand wing Mark Tele'a as co-captain at Toyota Verblitz as the former takes over the reigns from compatriot Steve Hansen. Big-spending Toyota finished a disappointing ninth-place last season under Hansen – who was assisted by Foster – despite boasting an abundance of world-class talent including Tele'a, Springboks great Pieter-Steph du Toit (who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in round three), ex-Japan ca

Toyota Verblitz head coach Steve Hansen announced his resignation and took aim at the standard of refereeing in Japan after his team’s loss to Honda Heat in the final round of the regular season. World Cup-winning Hansen has stepped down with his co-coach and fellow ex-All Blacks boss Ian Foster taking over as head coach in Aichi from next season. Former Wales coach Hansen, who won the World Cup in 2015 with New Zealand, was appointed as the team’s Director of Rugby in 2019 a

Black Rams Tokyo captain TJ Perenara faced his long-time former All Blacks colleague Aaron Smith for possibly the last time on Sunday as the latter’s Toyota Verblitz prevailed 40-28 to keep alive their play-off hopes. Perenara, 34, has been the driving force behind the Black Rams’ impressive season with Tabai Matson’s fourth-placed team on the verge of booking a play-off spot for the first time in the League One era. The 89-cap All Black, an ever-present for the Rams in his s

World Rugby Player of The Year Pieter-Steph du Toit has undergone shoulder surgery in South Africa and will be sidelined until at least...

Steve Hansen’s big-spending Toyota Verblitz have strengthened their squad by bringing in Scottish lock Richie Gray from URC champions...