All Blacks legend TJ Perenara was introduced by his new club Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo following their pre-season win over Kurt-Lee Arendse’s Mitsubishi Dynaboars at Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium on Saturday.
The 32-year-old World Cup winner called time on his Test career to ink a three-year deal to return to Japan’s top-flight after spending the final Top League season in 2021 with NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Osaka.
Komazawa-based Rams powered past the Dynaboars 26-19 with ex-England international Nathan Hughes helping himself to two tries as South African superstar Kurt-Lee Arendse made a low-key debut as he was restricted to being a peripheral figure with only a handful of touches from his full-back berth.
Perenara was joined by new Black Rams head coach Tabai Matson - who represented New Zealand and later his homeland of Fiji in his Test career - for the press conference which was staged on the athletics track at the edge of the field.
“The reason we decided to come back to Japan is because it was a place that we really enjoyed last time and I enjoyed the rugby here," said Perenara who signed off from the All Blacks jersey with 88 caps following the November win over Italy.
“When we left last time, we said Japan was a place we wanted to come back to and raise our kids, especially at this time of their lives.”
Perenara, whose Rams side open their season away at Franco Mostert and Pablo Matera’s Honda Heat on December 21, said that the offer to return to Japan was too good to turn down.
“The opportunity to play in Japan for the Black Rams was one I couldn’t turn down. The roster and depth the club has and the direction where we are going, that really captivated me. It would have been very hard to say no.”
The 2015 World Cup winner has two weeks to train with his new teammates before the fourth edition of League One kicks off.
“I want to understand how our team plays; I want to add the impact that I know I can add.”
Head coach Matson, who replaced Australian Peter Hewat in the summer and has installed former All Black Carl Hoeft as his forwards coach, hailed the club’s marquee recruit who will come up against the likes of Aaron Smith, Faf de Klerk and Bryn Hall this season.
“I think that for us he is the last piece of the puzzle. One of the things he’ll bring to the team is a huge work ethic and he is a great professional.
“TJ is a competitor. You’ll see a player fighting for the team so we can all learn from hat. Half-back is most important position in League One (TJ laughs), so no pressure.”
The Hurricanes great is keen to lace up his boots for his new club who have won four of their six pre-games fixtures.
“I think I could play now,” said Perenara.
"I can’t wait to come up against the likes of Richie Mo’unga, Sam Cane and Samisoni Tua of the D-Rocks who I know really well. Of course Nuggy (Toyota Verblitz’s Aaron Smith) too as well.”
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