Former Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw joins Japanese club
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Former Scotland captain, Greig Laidlaw has signed a deal to join Japanese Top League side NTT Shining Arcs along with Australians' Anaru Rangi and Liam Gill.
In January, it was confirmed that Laidlaw would leave Top 14 club Clermont following a three-year stay in France and the former Scotland international was linked with a move to PROD2 outfit Perpignan. However, he has now signed with NTT Shining Arcs.
As Scotland's second all-time points scorer (714), Laidlaw announced his international retirement in December 2019 having captained Scotland more than any other player (39 of his 76 appearances). Laidlaw toured with the British & Irish Lions in 2017 after he replaced Ben Youngs in the side.
Joining Laidlaw in Japan is former Wallabies' flanker Liam Gill. The former Reds' flanker made 15 appearances for the Wallabies between 2012 and 2013, all off the bench before he departed Australia signing with Top 14 giants Toulon ahead of the 2016/17 Top 14 season.
He spent just one season at Toulon before joining Lyon on a one-year deal ahead of the 2017/18 season. The highly-rated openside was linked with a move back to Australia after playing 60 times for Lyon scoring 15 tries but has opted to take his talents to Japan instead. Gill became the youngest ever player to compete at a Junior World Championship in 2010 at the age of just 17.
Anaru Rangi is a bone-rattling hooker and natural leader, who has become a consistent performer and mainstay in the Melbourne Rebels' front row. Rangi has managed 39 appearances in four years of playing Super Rugby, and has emerged as one of the premier rakes of Australian Rugby.
