Toyota Verblitz has announced the signing of Australian teenager Jonas Tanaka Dowlin.
The 18-year-old hooker graduated from Waverley College in Sydney and has played for the Australia New South Wales School Boys 1st XV (U18).
Dowlin, who stands at 5ft 7in and weighs 220 pounds, is half-Japanese.
Toyota’s latest signing said: “I am hugely thankful to be a part of Toyota Verblitz.
“I am excited to learn new things, develop as a rugby player, and play my part in ensuring success at Toyota. I am keen to meet the Toyota Verblitz fans and learn more about the Japanese culture.”
Steve Hansen’s side finished a disappointing seventh last season and has invested heavily again this summer.
Black Rams Tokyo’s Japan-qualified fly-half Matt McGahan, Australian prop Samuelu Mataafa, Toshiba centre and League One winner Nicholas McCurran have all joined along with Saitama’s fly-half Rikiya Matsuda.
NRL star Joseph Manu will switch codes and move to Toyota after the conclusion of Sydney Roosters’ season. The Roosters play J. J. Giltinan Shield winners Melbourne Storm in the preliminary finals on Friday.
Former All Blacks coach Ian Foster will serve as the club’s co-coach next season with 2015 World Cup-winning All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, who has been Toyota’s Director of Rugby since 2019, leading the team as head coach in addition to retaining his Director role.
Toyota’s talent-laden squad includes former Japan captain Kazuki Himeno, South Africa’s back-to-back Word Cup winner Pieter-Steph du Toit, All Blacks great Aaron Smith and Japan centre Siosaia Fifita.
Newcomer Dowlin will compete for the number two jersey with veterans Ryuhei Arita, 35 and 32-year-old Yoshikatsu Hikosaka, Ryusei Kato, 27 and 23-year-old Shintaro Fukuzawa who is yet to make his League One debut.
Toyota will play their first pre-season game on November 16 against Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath. The venue is yet to be announced.
Hansen and Foster’s first competitive game in charge will come against former League One winners Kubota Spears on Sunday December 22 on the opening weekend of the 2024-25 season at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo.
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