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Former Scotland captain Laidlaw confirms move to Japan
By Online Editors
Former Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw will be joining the host of star names lining out in the Japanese Top League next year after confirming his next move. After months of speculation surrounding his destination, Japanese Top League side NTT Shining Arcs have announced that Laidlaw will join the club when the season begins next year.
The club have also signed Australian flanker Liam Gill and New Zealand hooker Anaru Rangi.
"At last year's Japan World Cup I was able to experience the culture and meet wonderful fans," Laidlaw told the club's website.
"Every time I have visited Japan, I was welcomed with a wonderful hospitality."
Laidlaw, capped 76 times for Scotland announced his retirement from Test rugby last December.
He joined Clermont Auvergne in 2017 following spells with Edinburgh and Gloucester. In May he confirmed that he was leaving the French club after three years, signalling the end of his club career in Europe.
The 34-year-old now adds his name to the growing list of international stars heading to the Japanese Top League.
Last week All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett signed a lucrative one-season deal to join Suntory Sungoliath.
Springbok wing Makoze Mapimpi is joining NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes, where he will link up with fellow South Africa Johan Ackermann, who coaches the team..
Wales' Hadleigh Parkes is also heading to the Far East, leaving Scarlets for the Panasonic Wild Knights.
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Latest Comments
It is if he thinks he’s got hold of the ball and there is at least one other player between him and the ball carrier, which is why he has to reach around and over their heads. Not a deliberate action for me.
Go to commentsI understand, but England 30 years ago were a set piece focused kick heavy team not big on using backs.
Same as now.
South African sides from any period will have a big bunch of forwards smashing it up and a first five booting everything in their own half.
NZ until recently rarely if ever scrummed for penalties; the scrum is to attack from, broken play, not structured is what we’re after.
Same as now.
These are ways of playing very ingrained into the culture.
If you were in an English club team and were off to Fiji for a game against a club team you’d never heard of and had no footage of, how would you prepare?
For a forward dominated grind or would you assume they will throw the ball about because they are Fijian?
A Fiji way. An English way.
An Australian way depends on who you’ve scraped together that hasn’t been picked off by AFL or NRL, and that changes from generation to generation a lot of the time.
Actually, maybe that is their style. In fact, yes they have a style.
Nevermind. Fuggit I’ve typed it all out now.
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