Sam Greene was at the heart of a major upset as fourth-placed Shizuoka BlueRevs spanked Brave Lupus Tokyo 56-26 to complete a notable double over the defending champions.
However, this deal is more in line with a talented and valued player getting a ‘sabbatical’, as opposed to an outright loss of talent for Rugby Australia.
Robbie Deans has won the battle of the former Wallaby coaches in Japan Rugby League One, with his Saitama Wild Knights beating Dave Rennie's Kobe Steelers 46-32.
Two tries by Wallabies fullback Tom Banks helped Mie Heat come from behind to beat Sagamihara Dynaboars 38-37 in a Japan Rugby League One.thriller.
The Spears had the luxury of bringing one Test All Black Shaun Stevenson off the bench in the second half, to add impact to an already in-form backline.
The Brave Lupus was helped by a red card in the 59th minute from reserve Kobe Steelers prop Kauvaka Kaivelata, which gave the Todd Blackadder-coached Brave Lupus all of the momentum heading into the last quarter of the game.
A dramatic opening weekend of Japan Rugby League One saw three of the six matches in Division One decided in injury time
Two-time NRL premiership winner Joey Manu scored a try but was denied a winning start to his career in Japan Rugby League One thanks to ex-Wallabies No.10 Bernard Foley in Tokyo.
Former Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell believes an Australian team will take out next year’s Super Rugby Pacific title.
The Wallabies are in Dublin to play their final Test of 2024, there is an air of déjà vu about this trip to the emerald isles, and it bodes well for the men in gold.