Dearns v Harada: Japan stars clash on Super Rugby debuts

Japan teammates Warner Dearns and Mamoru Harada will go head-to-head on their respective Super Rugby debuts today as the Hurricanes host Moana Pasifika in Wellington.

Wellington-born Brave Blossoms captain Dearns, 23, starts in the second-row as Clark Laidlaw’s Hurricanes open their campaign at home following a bye in round one.

Harada, 26, comes into Pasifika’s 23 on the bench after being left out of their squad which stunned Fijian Drua on the road in Lautoka.

The former Toshiba Brave Lupus colleagues, who hoisted the Japan Rugby League One trophy together in June, will be reunited at Sky Stadium as the towering 2.02m lock Dearns looks to make in instant impression.

Harada, whose last competitive fixture was Japan’s home loss to Wales in July, withdrew from the Pacific Nations Cup last year due to his ’condition’ which also kept him out of his country’s end-of-year tour.

Dearns and Harada in their new colours

Dearns partners Hugo Plummer in the second-row as the returning All Black Jordie Barrett captains the favourites.

New Zealand hooker Asafo Aumua and loose forward Peter Lakai both start while fellow All Blacks Cam Roigard and Billy Proctor are among the replacements.

Pasifika head coach Tana Umaga has named seven debutants as they look to back up their historic win over the Drua.

Veteran hooker Samiuela Moli captains the team with regular skipper and last week’s hat-trick hero Miracle Faiilagi held back to help assure that the visitors finish strongly.

Ex-Brisbane Broncos prospect Israel Leota is thrown into the starting line-up on the right wing as he completes his switch to the 15-man game.

Two-time League One champion Harada is joined on the bench by Tonga international William Havili who impressed at full-back last week.

Tuna Tuitama, the cousin of Shizuoka Blue Revs and Japan wing Malo Tuitama, starts on the left wing.

Ex-Hino Red Dolphins scrum-half Augustine Pulu has been ruled out due to a calf injury.

Dearns (left) and Harada (centre) in action for Toshiba last season

Brave Blossoms head coach Eddie Jones is looking forward to watching the progress of two of his key players in Super Rugby this year.

“We’d like the majority of our national squad to be playing at the highest level,” said Jones on the Rugby Unity podcast.

“Super Rugby is a higher level than League One. Dearns and Harada are definitely good enough to play Super Rugby so I'm looking forward to seeing their progress. It's great to have two players playing Super Rugby.”

In an interesting side note, Dearns and Harada were both named in Japan’s first squad of 2026, a 55-man group which will come together for a training camp in June.

However, Japan Rugby listed Dearns’ club team as Toshiba Brave Lupus while Harada’s was listed as Moana Pasifika.

This could mean that Dearns is – as expected – returning to Fuchu following a one-year overseas sabbatical while Harada’s future beyond this season is still to be determined.

Watch Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika LIVE in Japan on WOWOW from 14.50 today