Charles Piutau and Sanele Nohamba set to leave Shizuoka Blue Revs

Ex-All Blacks wing Charles Piutau and former URC Player of The Year Sanele Nohamba have both left division one Japanese side Shizuoka Blue Revs.

Yuichiro Fujii’s side, who are captained by Springboks star Kwagga Smith, has endured a disappointing campaign as they narrowly missed out on a play-offs spot with a seventh-placed finish.

The Yamaha-backed Blue Revs will make wholesale changes to their squad this summer after announcing the departure of 14 players today including two Category C players.

Piutau, 34, whose older brother Siale, 40, plays for division two promotion hopefuls Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks, has made 44 appearances for Shizuoka since arriving from Bristol Bears in 2023.

© Shizuoka Blue Revs

The Tonga international, who has now played club rugby in New Zealand, Northern Ireland England and Japan, is expected to play for his country in the tier-two Nations Cup in July.

Former Lions standout Nohamba will also leave Iwata after two injury-hit seasons in Japan.

The 2023/2024 URC Player of the Season, who can play as a scrum-half or fly-half, moved to Shizuoka last year but only made four appearances in his first season in League One.

Versatile playmaker Nohamba only made one appearance this season as he came on to play for 31 minutes in their 37-22 loss away to Saitama Wild Knights in January.

© Shizuoka Blue Revs

Veteran lock and former Japan international Yuya Odo has retired while player-coach Viliami Tahituʻa, who made over 100 appearances for the club, has departed with captain Smith and Fijian flyer Semi Radradra now the remaining Category C players (capped by a country other than Japan) at the club.

Hooker Toshiya Hirakawa has retired while Brave Blossoms international Sam Greene, who was today named in the Japan XV squad, has also left Yamaha Stadium.

Flanker Ryosuke Funahashi and lock Shumpei Miura have both called time on their playing careers.

Taiwan-born prop Bunkei Kaku has moved on while former Sunwolves back-rower and Japan XV call-up Malgene Ilaua have exited along with lock Jack Wright, number eight Sione Vuna and flanker Simon Miller.

Assistant coach Yoshikazu Tamura and analyst Taiyo Koto are also among the departures.