Ireland’s James Lowe could make Suntory debut against his former club
Ireland wing James Lowe could make his Suntory Sungoliath debut against his former club the Chiefs in a pre-season game at Tokyo’s Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in November.
New signing Lowe, 34, who has joined the big-spending Fuchu outfit as a replacement for Stormers-bound Springboks superstar Cheslin Kolbe, has already moved to Japan and linked up with ex-Japan fly-half Keisuke Sawaki’s team.
The 45-cap Test star is understood to have inked a two-year deal with the former Top League powerhouses through to 2028 after failing to agree a contract extension with European Champions Cup runners-up Leinster.
New Zealand-born Lowe, who left the URC winners as the club’s record try scorer with a record of 71 finishes in 100 games, will likely be held back for Suntory’s initial run of pre-season games in October.
Suntory are led by former World Cup winner and ex-All Blacks captain Sam Cane while their talent-laden squad includes ex-Wallabies flanker Sean McMahon and Japan scrum-half Naoto Saito who has returned to the Fuchu side after two trophy-laden seasons in France with Toulouse.
Lowe, a two-time Six Nations winner and six-time URC champion, will be expected to be an onlooker for the club's warm-up games against Saitama Wild Knights, Urayasu D-Rocks and Kubota Spears next month.
The opportunity to play against the Hamilton-based Chiefs, a club where he became a fan favourite after impressing over three seasons, four weeks before the Japan Rugby League One season starts seems like an ideal occasion to make his debut for his new employers.
Suntory’s marquee pre-season game against their Super Rugby counterparts was announced on 2 September as part of the first Chichibunomiya Minato Rugby Festival.
The anticipated contest will take place at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium on Saturday 14 November.
After hosting Super Rugby’s runners-up, Suntory will complete their pre-season schedule with away games against Black Rams Tokyo and Shizuoka Blue Revs.
"To everyone in the Suntory Sungoliath family, my family and I are incredibly excited to begin this new chapter of our lives in Japan. I have some very special memories from playing there," said Lowe at the time of signing.
"I have always admired the passion for rugby, the respect shown both on and off the field and the pride people take in representing their team. I am looking forward to learning more about Japan and its culture. It is a huge honour to join such a prestigious club.
"I will do everything I can to earn the trust of my team-mates, coaches and supporters. I want to bring energy, physicality and a positive attacking mindset to the team. I can't wait to get stuck in!”
Suntory, who lost the inaugural League One final to Saitama in 2022, will launch their 2026-2027 season against rivals Black Rams Tokyo on the opening weekend, the competition organisers announced on Wednesday.
The day and venue for the game are still to be announced. A Tokyo-based stadium will host the fixture on Saturday 12 or Sunday 13 December as the clubs collide in the competition’s opening round for the second year in a row.
Click here for more information on the Chichibunomiya Minato Rugby Festival
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