Another Highlanders loose forward Japan bound

The Manukata Sanix Blues have announced two key signings for the 2018 season, one of which is Highlanders and Maori All Blacks loose forward Dan Pryor.

The Japanese Top League side have also signed South African prop John-Roy Jenkinson, who has previously featured for the Bulls in Super Rugby and South Africa at the U20 level.

The side also announced the departure of former Springboks lock Jacques Potgieter.

Pryor - who is yet to make an appearance this season - joins fellow Highlanders and Maori All Blacks loose forward Elliot Dixon in heading to Japan after it was announced last month that Dixon had signed with the Ricoh Black Rams. Highlanders Richard Buckman and Tom Franklin are also set to move to Japan, having announced their signing with the Wayne Smith-led Kobe Steelers in April.

The 30-year-old will also join fellow Maori All Blacks Jason Emery and Andre Taylor at the club.

Auckland-born Pryor has represented Northland since 2010 and had a stint with the Blues Super Rugby squad in 2012, making one appearance before finally joining the Highlanders in 2015, who he has featured for 34 times.

Pryor was named in the Maori All Blacks squad in 2014, making his debut in a 61-21 win over Japan, coming on to the field as a replacement for Dixon. The following week the sides met again, with Pryor starting the match and scoring the decisive try in the final minute of the match.

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