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.
Springbok pair Faf de Klerk and Jesse Kriel starred as Yokohama Canon Eagles beat the Shizuoka Blue Revs in a high-scoring shoot out by 53-35.
A dramatic opening weekend of Japan Rugby League One saw three of the six matches in Division One decided in injury time
With the 2024/25 Japan Rugby League One season kicking off this weekend for round one, there will be plenty of foreign players to watch out for.
The All Blacks kept the lead in the second half but never looked completely convincing in their 38-31 win.
Finally, after what's felt like an eternity, New Zealand fans will get the chance to see what the likes of Folau Fakatava, Stephen Perofeta and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck are capable of on the world stage. Or at least that's how the rhetoric goes.
Cast your eyes through last year's All Blacks and Wallabies squad and while there are many players entering the twilight of their careers, you'll see plenty of young players who are already making the step up to test rugby.
Springboks star Pieter-Steph du Toit has been named to make his Japan Rugby League One debut for Toyota Verblitz this weekend.
The Verblitz have named an all-Kiwi second row for their opening game of the 2022 Japan Rugby League One season, with new recruit Patrick Tuipulotu set to partner former Chief Michael Allardice.