Boks star Lukhanyo Am to join Mitsubishi Dynaboars

South Africa’s double World Cup winner Lukhanyo Am is set to join Glenn Delaney’s division one outfit Mitsubishi Dynaboars. 

Sharks star Am, 31, who is currently on the standby list for his country’s end-of-year tour, can play at outside-centre and on the wing and returns to Japan after a brief spell with Kobe Steelers in 2022 where he scored three tries in six appears. 

The Dynaboars released a video on Wednesday morning teasing a new signing. It briefly shows Am in action for the Sharks in their 29-19 win over Welsh side Scarlets in South Africa on 25 October. 

© SA Rugby

Am’s arrival will help to ease the loss of fellow Springboks star Kurt-Lee Arendse who returned to the Bulls after a scintillating season in Japan.  

The Sagamihara-based club finished a respectable ninth last season and Am becomes the fifth South African in their squad. He joins new prop Pieter Scholtz, lock Walt Steenkamp and flanker Friedle Olivier as well as well-travelled lock Gideon Koegelenberg who arrived in October.  

Japan-born fly-half Shun Miyake arrived from Canterbury last month while Fiji-born lock Jose Seru, who represented Japan at the Tokyo Olympics in sevens, moved from Osaka side Kintetsu Liners to Sagamihara in August.  

The Dynaboars’ roster also boasts several Japan internationals including lock Epineri Uluiviti and inside-centre Charlie Lawrence who are both with Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms on their Autumn tour.  

Am in action for Kobe in 2022 - © JRLO

Delaney’s side has already played four pre-season games and will face back-to-back champions Toshiba Brave Lupus next in Fuchu on 15 November before hosting Shizuoka Blue Revs on 29 November.  

The club kicks off their League One season against Jasper Wiese and Samu Kerevi's Urayasu D-Rocks in Chiba on Saturday 13 December.