Liam Squire reportedly off to Japan

All Blacks No 6 Liam Squire has reportedly signed a deal with a Japanese club and will snip his ties with the game in New Zealand after the World Cup tournament.

According to a report from Stuff, the Highlanders player and his management have kept the organisation informed of their plans to negotiate with the Japanese club.

Hand injuries have restricted the 27-year-old's appearances for the All Blacks to 23 caps.

"The body took a hiding last year," Squire told Stuff recently. "The way I like to play it's the risk I take. I spent the off-season trying to get the body ready to take those hits and play the style I want to."

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie gave Squire, who was born and raised in Manawatu, his big break in Super Rugby in 2014 but a concussion suffered in the provincial final for Tasman against Taranaki later that year forced him to take a break for six months.

In 2016 Squire transferred to the Highlanders. His ball running skills and tenacious tackling, which became more prominent under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, resulted in him winning his first test cap.