Havili at Toshiba, Blackadder replaced, and Tevita Li close to Japan: the Kiwis in Japan's pre-season

Japan Rugby League One does not kick off until mid-December, but the pre-season has already brought New Zealand news: a former Crusaders captain at a new club, a change at the top of that club's coaching staff, a Kiwi wing on the verge of playing for Japan, and a date for James Lowe against his old Super Rugby team.

Havili arrives at Toshiba, and Blackadder moves on

David Havili, the All Black and former Crusaders captain, has joined Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo as one of their three overseas internationals. Toshiba won their first pre-season game 55-40 against Saitama Wild Knights in Fuchu, over three 40-minute periods in 26-degree heat, although the report did not say whether Havili played.

The club has also changed coach: former All Black and Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has been replaced as head coach by forwards coach Joshua Syms, according to RugbyJP. Toshiba lost two New Zealanders over the winter. Shannon Frizell left in June after three seasons and returned home, and Richie Mo'unga has also left; Mo'unga is back in New Zealand and eligible for the All Blacks again. Australian Jack Dempsey, who replaced Frizell, said the opening win was a reward for a hard pre-season.

Tevita Li set to qualify for Japan

Tevita Li, the Honda Heat wing, 31, Auckland-born and a former New Zealand Under-20 and Highlanders player, is set to move into the competition's new Category A2 from this season, which would make him eligible to play for Japan. He has been in Japan since 2020, first with Suntory and with Honda since 2023, and scored five tries in ten games last season, his best return at the club. RugbyJP reported that his 2022 NPC appearance for North Harbour had reset his residency clock, and that a 2024 World Rugby ruling counts time overseas when a player keeps an exclusive registration. Honda play a pre-season game on 31 October.

Lowe v the Chiefs, 14 November

James Lowe, the Nelson-born wing who holds Leinster's try-scoring record with 71, joined Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath on a two-year deal in July as Cheslin Kolbe's replacement. His likely debut is a pre-season game against the Chiefs, his former Super Rugby club, at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday 14 November. Sam Cane is also at Sungoliath, on a deal to 2027; one report describes him leading the team as a coach, others as a player, so we will confirm his role before the season.

The League One season is expected to start on 12 and 13 December.