South African Friedle Olivier joins the Dynaboars

League One surprise package Mitsubishi Dynaboars has signed experienced South African flanker Friedle Olivier until the end of the season.

Pretoria native Olivier, 32, has joined from the Cheetahs to bolster Glenn Delaney’s squad as the Sagamihara-based club mounts a surprise play-off push.

The 6ft 5in, 18st 4lb newcomer, who played for Russian side Yenisey-STM Krasnoyarsk from 2020-2022, can play at number eight, lock or flanker and provides the Dynaboars with further depth at a crucial stage of the season.

Olivier has already been registered as a Category B player (uncapped in Test rugby and therefore could potentially qualify for Japan in the future) and will be available for Saturday’s trip to Malcolm Marx's high-flying Kubota Spears.

"I am very excited to join the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars family," he said.

“It is a massive honour for me to be part of the club and its rich history, and I can't wait to make the club and its supporters proud.

“I will always strive my best to leave the jersey in a better place and to bring honour to the jersey. I can't wait to meet everyone and to start this amazing journey." 

The Dynaboars’ latest recruit joins a growing contingent of South African talent at the club which includes Springboks star Kurt-Lee Arendse, lock Walt Steenkamp and prop Khutha Mchunu who signed on in March.

Delaney’s seventh-placed side have won five games and lost seven and are only four points off Yokohama Canon Eagles who occupy sixth position which is the final play-off spot.

Arendse has been the centrepiece of the Dynaboars’ vastly improved campaign with seven tries this season, his latest a fine solo effort on Saturday as they completed the double over Steve Hansen and Ian Foster’s beleaguered Toyota Verblitz.  

Following the trip to Kubota, the Dynaboars will face Shizuoka Blue Revs, Yokohama, Kobe Steelers, Toshiba Brave Lupus and conclude the regular season against basement outfit Urayasu D-Rocks on May 9 at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo. 

Pictures courtesy of the Dynaboars