Japan and former Suntory No. 8 Yuya Saito will sign a contract with French Division One rugby club Colomiers, his agent announced Thursday in Tokyo.
Saito, 25, becomes the first Japanese forward player to ink a professional deal with a foreign club.
His contract with Colomiers will run from Nov. 1 through the end of June next year. Financial terms were not disclosed. Saito has nine caps with Japan.
"I'd like to prove what I've developed in Japanese rugby with the French club," Saito said. "I'm fit at the moment and I'll work hard to win a place on the first team."