All three divisions of League One kick off on Saturday for the eagerly-awaited 2023-2024 season with stars from the World Cup in France set to compete in all three tiers of Japan’s premier club competition.
Five teams will compete in League One’s third tier. There is only one division three fixture on the opening weekend.
Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks v Hino Red Dolphins
Saturday 9 December, 13.00 KO Yumenoshima Athletic Stadium, Tokyo
Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks will be bidding for an instant return to division two after losing a promotion/relegation play-off to Fukuoka-based Kyuden Voltex last term.
The Blue Sharks raised eyebrows with the marquee summer signing of Samoan World Cup star Lima Sopoaga who earned man of the match honours in his country’s narrow loss to England.
Former All Black Sopoaga, 32, will again be plying his trade in a new country following spells in England with Wasps and in France with Lyon after leaving his native New Zealand in 2018.
Shimizu have picked the highly-rated veteran at fly-half with former Sunwolves lock Tom Rowe and former London Irish back rower Josh Basham providing power and experience up front.
There’s no room in the matchday 23 for former Tonga international Siale Piutau, 38, the older brother of Charles Piutau, along with his compatriot and former sevens international Michael Toloke.
Visitors Hino Red Dolphins, who were relegated after withdrawing from their league campaign after news broke of some of the players being involved in a drunken bar scandal in Oita, will also be aiming for redemption this season.
The Dolphins are hoping for a fresh start and have plenty of talent to call upon for a crucial season for the club.
Towering Australian international lock Rory Arnold missed out on being in World Cup contention after the club ceased operations just four games into the season.
Arnold elected to remain in Japan having only inked a three-year, AU$4.5 million contract in 2022.
The giant lock starts on Saturday alongside a man who did go to this year’s World Cup in scrum-half Augustine Pulu.
A Rio 2016 sevens Olympian for New Zealand, Pulu played three games for Tonga in France and starts at inside centre for the Dolphins.
Super Rugby veteran Simon Hickey gets the nod at 10.
Division 3 action will resume on Saturday 16 December when Skyactivs Hiroshima entertain Kurita Water Gush at the Balcom BMW Hiroshima Stadium.
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