Japanese club sign Springbok centre and All Black prop

Japanese club sign Springbok centre and All Black prop

Japanese Top League side Panasonic Wild Knight have confirmed the signing of former All Black and Crusaders prop Wyatt Crockett and Springbok centre Damian de Allende. 

Both players will join the club ahead of the 2020 Top League season with Crockett set to represent his home province Tasman before joining the squad while de Allende is set to feature for the Springboks at the Rugby World Cup.

The side, coached by former Wallabies and Crusaders coach Robbie Deans has also signed former Crusader Chris King as well as former Ireland u20 Harrison Brewer from the Manawatu Turbos.

Deans has also secured the services of former Brumbies' back James Dargaville, Canterbury's Filimona Waqainabete and scrum Theo Strang.

36-year-old loosehead prop Wyatt Crockett is the most capped Super Rugby player of all time and was the first player in the competition's history to make over 200 appearances while also racking up 71 test caps for the All Blacks with a staggering 94% win ratio.


27-year-old Springbok centre Damian de Allende is closing in on 50 test caps for his country and currently has 88 Super Rugby caps for the Stormers.

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