Big in Japan | League One preview
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The Japanese Rugby League One kicks off tomorrow with 12 teams looking to start the new season with a WIN.
Brave Lupus beat the Wild Knights in last seasons final 24-20
Honda will open the 2024/25 season when they play Black Rams while last years Champions, Brave Lupus, will take on Canon Eagles on Sunday.
Big names
Franco Mostert and Pablo Matera will wear the 5 and 6 jersey for Honda with former Saracens and England u20 flyhalf Manu Vunipola in the 10 jersey Liam Gill and TJ Perenara will start for Black Rams, Coaches by former Harlequins coach Tabai Matson
Kwagga Smith will captain the Blue Revs when they take on Dave Rennie's Kobelco Steelers. Scotland and Glasgow hooker George Turner will win his first start in the League One for Kolbelco with veteran Brodie Retallick starting in the 5 jersey.
Kwagga Smith
30 Year old Sean McMahon who represented Australia at the 2015 RWC, will start for Sungoliath togerther with Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe. Opposite them in the Wild Knights jerseys will be Damain de Allende in the 12 jersey and Vince Aso on the bench.
Kubota Spears will look at their veteran half back paring of Bryn Hall and Bernard Foley to give them direction with Malcolm Marx coming off the bench. Richie Gray will win his first start for Verblitz as Steven Hansen's men will look to get one over Frans Ludeke's Spears. Aaron Smith will start inn the 9 jersey for Verblitz
Probably the biggest head-to-head this weekend will be between Kurt-Lee Arendse v Israel Folaua. 25 Year old Springbok wing v 35 year old former Australia fullback. James Graywon will start in the 10 jersey for Dynaboars with Samu Kerevi and Shane Gates in the centers for D-Rocks.
Amanaki Mafi (8), Faf de Klerk (9) and Jesse Kriel (13) will all feauture for the Eagles as they take on last years Champions. For Todd Blackadders Brave Lupus, Shannon Frizell (6), Micheal Leitch (8) and Richie MoÚnga (10) will all look to make a positive impact in their first match.
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