Mo’unga returns after five months, hails star debutant Tjay Clarke

Toshiba Brave Lupus superstar Richie Mo’unga returned to action on Saturday as the back-to-back League One champions defeated Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars 36-33 in their latest pre-season game in Fuchu.

Two-time MVP winner Mo’unga, 31, who will return to New Zealand next summer, was making his first appearance since his starring role in the League One final win against Kubota Spears in June.

“It felt awesome to be back playing, it’s been five months and nothing can prepare you for being out there and doing it, it was a good start,” said the seven-time Super Rugby winner who will return to Super Rugby Pacific side the Crusaders in 2026. 

Mo'unga played on Saturday for the first time since June - (c) Toshiba Brave Lupus

Todd Blackadder’s champions have strengthened their squad in the off-season with their latest addition, Tjay Clarke, arguably being their most eye-catching piece of business.

The 23-year-old former Hurricanes wing, whose cousin Chance Peni plays for second division side Toyota Shuttles, started at full-back on his debut and needed only nine minutes to open his account in Japan with a clinical finish.

Try scorer Tjay Clarke caught the eye on his Toshba debut - (c) Toshiba Brave Lupus

Compatriot Mo’unga hailed Clarke’s impact and believes that he’ll have a ‘huge’ role to play as Toshiba aim for an unprecedented ‘three-peat' next season.

“He’s a big talent, he’s skillful, he’s very young but he has a really good rugby brain on him, he’s really mature in his rugby,” Mo’unga told RugbyJP.

“I think he’s going to be huge for us,” said the 2023 World Cup runner-up before adding: “he’s an electric player, he’s a really good addition for us and already he’s fitting in well.”  

As he embarks on his third and final season at Toshiba, the Christchurch native has the same desire to taste League One glory again but plans to savour his final campaign in Japan.

“Every year I love to compete, I love to win, I’ll do anything to try and give us the best chance to do that. It would nice, it would be a fairytale ending but rugby doesn’t really favour fairytale endings. You have to put in the hard work and a lot of things have to go your way to win a competition.

“Every year is special and there’s always the goal of wanting to win the competition,” said the mercurial fly-half.

“I’ll treasure it a lot more this year, the special bonds and the connections I’ve made here at Toshiba and the Japan lifestyle. I enjoy the Japanese fans and the people who have given me a lot of joy and happiness here.” 

Mo’unga wants to sign off by delivering a special season for the fans and to repay what the country has given him and his family over the last two years as he prepares to return to the Test arena for the All Blacks next year.

“I’m excited to play rugby and hopefully contribute to producing a brand of rugby which is awesome to watch.

“Toshiba and Fuchu, I’ve been able to call my home; it’s felt like home and it’s been awesome to have my family here and to raise my two kids here in Japan for the last two seasons.

“I love what Japan stands for, the respect and how much of an honour it is to come to work here every day and I’ll miss it.

“I’ll be enjoying it a lot more, the little things, the ramen and all that stuff, the beers, I’ll enjoy that more this season.”

Mo’unga makes his second start in pre-season this Saturday when Toshiba travel to arch-rivals and Fuchu neighbours Suntory Sungoliath.

Toshiba will kick off the new League One campaign against inaugural League One winners Saitama Wild Knights at Ajinomoto Stadium on Sunday 14 December.