Australian fly-half Quade Cooper has recovered from a facial injury to hand Hanazono Kintetsu Liners a huge boost for their trip to Tokyo to play the Black Rams on Saturday.
The talismanic playmaker, who won Tri Nations and Super Rugby titles in 2011, suffered a head-to-head collision during the club’s last pre-season game against Kobe Steelers on 25 November.
Cooper, 35, has been with the Liners since 2019 and returned from a career-threatening Achilles tendon injury last season in time to help the Osaka club retain their place in division one.
The Auckland-born veteran has reformed his international Test rugby half-back partnership with Will Genia at the Liners and they will link-up again on Saturday.
Kintetsu Corporation-backed Liners sit 11th in the 12-team table after losing all three of their games this season.
The Liners slipped to a one-point defeat at the hands of the Dynaboars in round one before being routed 49-0 by inaugural League One champions Saitama Wild Knights.
Springbok-laden Yokohama bested the strugglers 66-26 last time out.
Tokyo-based Black Rams are also chasing their first win of the season and call upon flanker Amato Fakatava - who was a revelation for Japan at the World Cup – and Australian utility back Isaac Lucas who starts in his preferred full-back position.
“I’m excited to be back on the field,” said Cooper who has won 80 Test caps for the Wallabies.
“Everyday the window of opportunity of doing the things we love gets smaller and smaller so I’m super grateful to be able to be back out there doing one of the things I love once again.”
Cooper, whose younger brother Moses Jones is now playing in Japan for Top East League outfit Yakult Levins, will be joined in making his first start of the campaign by former Exeter Chiefs centre Tom Hendrickson who starts at number 13 and ex-Japan international Tsuyoshi Murata who plays at open-side flanker.
Meanwhile teammate and Japan full-black Semisi Masirewa is also nearing a return to full fitness after coming off injured during his country’s game with England at the World Cup.
Former Sunwolves back Masirewa told RugbyJP that he is aiming to return to action in February.
Pictures courtesy of Kintetsu Liners