Kubota Spears prop Opeti Helu joins French side Lyon

Japan prop Opeti Helu has signed for Top 14 side Lyon, his club Kubota Spears has announced today.

Tonga-born Helu, 27, has spent seven years with the Funabashi side having joined in 2019 following a successful two-month trial.

The hulking 6ft 3in, 127kg tight-head, who famously sidestepped All Blacks fly-half Damian McKenzie to score on his Brave Blossoms debut in 2024, has attracted a host of suitors this season and has opted to ink a deal with Karim Ghezal’s French side who will play in the European Challenge Cup next season.

A Kubota club statement said: “This transfer is based on the player’s own wishes and aims to improve his athletic ability and gain international experience through a challenge abroad.

“The club respects his decision and has approved this transfer. The entire club wholeheartedly supports Opeti Helu’s new challenge and looks forward to his continued growth and success.” 

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Helu scored six tries in 18 games this season with seven of those appearances coming off the bench as part of the club’s potent ‘bomb squad’ including a 29-minute cameo in the League One final loss to Dave Rennie’s Kobe Steelers a week ago.

The Nuku'alofa native visited France last week and met his new coach and teammates including Fijian wing Jiuta Wainiqolo.

Helu is widely regarded for his scrummaging ability, his breakthrough power and impressive skillset which included 23 offloads for the League One runners-up.

He has made 78 appearances for the club, after making his bow in 2022, and was recently named in the League One team of the season for the fifth year in a row.

Despite his impressive club form, his Brave Blossoms career has stalled with his second and last cap coming back in November 2024 against Uruguay.

The former Australia high school representative was overlooked for Japan’s pre-Nations Championship squad and will become eligible for his native Tonga next year but not in time for the World Cup.

Japan head coach Eddie Jones, who last week named a 35-man national team for a training camp in Miyazaki, explained his decision for not selecting the France-bound prop.

“We've had discussions with players not picked, they know what they need to do. We’re getting depth in position now and some good players get left out.

“Opeti has a lot of potential. There’s a backstory with Opeti that would be inappropriate for me to tell you. That makes it difficult for him to be picked at this time. He can scrummage well, he’s got a good carry and he really wants to play for Japan. We want players like that.”

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