Welsh hooker to join RWC winner at Black Rams Tokyo
- Mark Pickering
- 16 hours ago
- 2 min read
Welsh hooker Tomoya Adachi is set to join League One side Black Rams Tokyo after impressing during a trial in October, RugbyJP.com understands.
The Caerphilly-based 21-year-old, who has played for Wales u20s, was one of 14 departures from the hapless URC outfit the Dragons in May.
Adachi, who also qualifies for Japan and Belgium, played against Glenn Delaney’s Mitsubishi Dynaboars and former Pontypool player Scott Pierce’s Secom Rugguts during a two-week trial in October.
The 6ft 1in (186cm) youngster, who weighs just north of 16 stone (103kg), rubbed shoulders with the likes of All Blacks legend and 2015 World Cup winner TJ Perenara who captains Tabai Matson's side.
Adachi can also look forward to playing alongside former Australia internationals Paddy Ryan and Liam Gill as well as Japan’s star number eight Amato Fakatava and mercurial Australian playmaker Isaac Lucas.
Ex-All Blacks prop Carl Hoeft is the club’s forwards coach while Ryan has moved into a player-coach role and will assist with their scrum efforts.
Setagaya-based Black Rams finished seventh last season after being pipped to a top-six play-off spot by Sam Cane’s Suntory Sungoliath in the penultimate game of the regular season.
Ex-All Black and Fiji international Matson, who joined the club in 2024 after a spell with Harlequins, has also signed Waratahs lock Felix Kalapu and Chiefs centre Rameka Poihipi to add to a strong core of Japanese prospects.
Matson’s recruitment drive has also led to him attending university games across Tokyo to cast his eye over the country’s best young prospects.
The Rams host Suntory in their latest pre-season hit out on Saturday in a preview for opening round of the season when the two sides clash at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium on Saturday 13 December.
Stay tuned to RugbyJP.com for all the build-up to the new League One season which will air live in the UK on Premier Sports.
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