Toshiba Brave Lupus stars Richie Mo'unga and Shannon Frizell will not be attending Japan’s Test match against New Zealand in Yokohama next week, RugbyJP can exclusively reveal.
Mo'unga, 30, and Frizell, 30, who powered Todd Blackadder’s Toshiba to League One glory last season, have to attend their team’s first pre-season game against Kurt-Lee Arendse’s Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars on Saturday in Fuchu, according to our sources.
The All Blacks stars, who last played for their country in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final loss to South Africa, are unavailable for selection for New Zealand as they play overseas.
New Zealand open their Autumn Nations Series against Eddie Jones’ misfiring Japan before heading North to play England, Ireland, France and Italy.
Suntory Sungoliath’s loose forward Sam Cane, who earned his 100th cap for his country in their last Rugby Championship game against Australia, is part of ex-Ricoh Black Rams’ flanker Scott Robertson’s 36-man squad along with Rams-bound scrum-half TJ Perenara.
Over 55,000 tickets have already been sold for Saturday’s clash at the 72,000-capacity Nissan Stadium which hosted both semi-finals in 2019.
Toshiba start their title defence on Sunday 22 December against Jesse Kriel and Faf de Klerk’s Yokohama Canon Eagles at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama.
Pictures courtesy of Toshiba Brave Lupus
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