Japan Top League club Toyota Verblitz announced Wednesday that Japan No. 8 Takashi Kikutani will leave for England on Dec. 18 to join up with English Premiership club Saracens.
It is now being determined how long the 33-year-old Kikutani will be away from the Top League club. Verblitz are currently last among eight teams in the league's top-tier Group A after two games. The group's top four teams at the end of the regular season will take part in the league playoff tournament.
Steve Borthwick, who coached Japan's forwards in November, is currently wrapping up his playing career for Saracens, who were once coached by Japan boss Eddie Jones.