There is no doubt that the popularity of Japanese Rugby has sky rocketed after the last two Rugby World Cup tournaments as a few players with links to Fiji, stars of the Rugby World Cup and high profile coaches are in the Japanese Top League.
Japan is also now one of the rugby powerhouses in the world.
One of the players who has moved from New Zealand to Japan is Filimoni Waqainabete.
He is the son of Health Minister, Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete and he plays for the Panasonic Wild Knights.
Filimoni was part of the Canterbury Mitre 10 squad.
Filimoni’s teammates at Wild Knights include World Cup winners, Damian de Allende, Sam Whitelock, David Pocock and the team is coached by Robbie Deans.
Former Wallaby, Samu Kerevi who has links to Fiji also moved to Japan after the Rugby World Cup.
Former All Blacks captain Keiran Read and World Cup winner, Willie le Roux are also now playing in Japan.
2007 World Cup winning coach, Jake White is the coach of Toyota Verblitz and former All Blacks World Cup winning coach Steve Hansen is an advisor to Toyota Verblitz.
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