Japan's unlikely leader who turned down the All Blacks
Summary
Warner Dearns moved from New Zealand to Japan at age 14 when his father took a coaching job there. Now 24, he co-captains Japan and says he has no interest in switching allegiance to the All Blacks.Key Facts
- Dearns moved to Japan with his family from New Zealand when he was 14.
- He developed as a rugby player at Kashiwa Senior High School and made his Japan debut in November 2021, aged 19.
- Dearns played in all four of Japan’s matches at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
- He spent the past season with the Hurricanes in New Zealand, helping the team win its first Super Rugby title in a decade.
- Dearns said switching to the All Blacks was never an option for him.
- He speaks Japanese fluently, and his son was born in Japan.
- Dearns co-captains Japan against England at Twickenham on 14 November.
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