Japan's new professional rugby league, the Top League, may not kick off until Sept. 13 but the 12 clubs involved are all in the process of finalizing their squads and coaching staffs for the inaugural season.
Following hard on the heels the news that Wallaby vice-captain Toutai Kefu would join the Kanto-based Kubota club following the Rugby World Cup in October and November, Sanix, the West Japan champion of 2002-2003, held a press conference in Tokyo on Monday to announce two big-name signings of its own.
Arran Pene, who played 15 times in the backrow for the All Blacks, was named head coach, while the club also welcomed on board former Waikato captain Dion Muir.