Horie: Honoured to join Rebels
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The Melbourne Rebels have announced the signing of Japan and Panasonic Wild Knights hooker Shota Horie for the 2013 Super Rugby season.
Horie will join the Rebels in the early part of December and will be available for Japanese selection throughout stages of the Rebels' 2013 campaign.
With the Melbourne Rebels playing the opening match of the 2013 Super Rugby season, Horie is in line to be the first Japanese player ever to play Super Rugby in the competition's 17-year history.
The industrious hooker debuted for Otago in this year's ITM Cup, and was part of the Japanese national side in the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
"I am honoured to become a part of the Melbourne Rebels," said Horie.
"I would like to contribute to the team's success as much as I can and also to prove the potential of Japanese players in Super rugby.
"I appreciate the understanding and support to [be able to] provide me [with] this great opportunity from Panasonic. I will make the best effort to repay all the support I have had [from them]."
Rebels head coach Damien Hill, having spent three years coaching in Japan, understands the significance of this signing and applauds the stance taken by Horie in representing Japanese players in Super Rugby.
"The work ethic of all Japanese players is of the highest order, to have him as part of this club will have an immediate impact," said Hill.
"Culture and values are a strong part of Japan, as they are here at the Rebels, and we are thrilled to have Shota on board.
"He comes with a point to prove, as do most of our players we bring from afar. That drive will be infectious, and will bring the best out of all the hookers at the club.
"We currently have an environment where there is competition in all spots, which is exactly what we want at the club. The hooking spot is certainly one position that is open at present."
Horie will join Highlanders scrum-half Fumiaka Tanaka as one of two Japanese signings in Super Rugby for 2013, a move that will create plenty of momentum in their homeland, and throughout the southern hemisphere.
Comments
GoWalesGo says...
Good to see these guys given a go. Michael Leitch is another player who i think is good enough, maybe he's rejected offers he would be getting much more money in Japan?
The fullback Ayumu Goromaru looks pretty good too, not good enough for super rugby though, but he could make it in Europe i reckon. I'd like to see the Ospreys sign him up, anything is better than Fussell to be honest...
Posted 08:53 23rd November 2012
UBA05 says...
PREEST, ferdie, Cats_Meow and 5Lock4ward. You guys beat me to it. I absolutely second your thoughts.
Ah, a forum with positivity and lacking stupid arguments and a village idiot. Ahh, simply delightful like a breath of fresh air.
Hope i didn't jinx it
Posted 18:57 22nd November 2012
5Lock4ward says...
A huge moment for Japanese rugby. Good on him.
Posted 13:53 21st November 2012
Cats_Meow says...
Shot, A. Horie...
Jokes aside this guy seemed to hold his own for Otago in the ITM... great to see him and Fumiaki Tanaka lock in Super Rugby contracts - big ups to Tony Brown for bringing these guys to NZ and getting them some SH exposure, awesome stuff
Posted 10:02 21st November 2012
ferdie says...
Greta news, he and Tanaki both had good ITM season for Otago.
I'm sure won't mind being relgated to second (by a week?)
28 October 2012
Japan's Fumiaki Tanaka is set to become the first player from his country to compete in the southern hemisphere's Super Rugby competition next season for the Dunedin-based Highlanders."I feel so honoured to be becoming Japan's first Super Rugby player," said Takana.
Posted 10:00 21st November 2012
PREEST says...
It is wonderful to see the beginning of Japanese players playing in Super Rugby. This will ultimately improve the level of rugby in Japan, and might help to see some of the better sides in Japan join the Super Rugby competition.
I didn't know that the Highlanders had signed a Japanese player. Just think, a Japanese player, getting regular game time with and against players from the All blacks, South Africa and Australia.
This is really exciting and is indeed a good thing for rugby.
Posted 09:44 21st November 2012