Andy Ellis begins coaching career against Ian Foster's Toyota Verblitz as Japan Rugby League One opens

Andy Ellis, the Rugby World Cup-winning former All Blacks scrum-half, will begin his professional coaching career against a familiar face when Japan Rugby League One opens on December 12 — his Kobelco Kobe Steelers facing Ian Foster’s Toyota Verblitz in the season’s first round.

Ellis has replaced Dave Rennie at the defending champions, reuniting with former director of rugby Wayne Smith, who will serve in an advisory capacity. The pairing previously combined to deliver Kobe the 2018 title, with Smith leading the programme and Ellis captaining the side through a season that ended in a 55-5 demolition of Tokyo Sungoliath in the final.

Brodie Retallick, last season’s League One Player of the Year, will again skipper the Steelers. While All Blacks stars Ardie Savea and Anton Lienert-Brown have not returned, Kobe have bolstered their squad with Springboks scrum-half Grant Williams and former All Blacks winger George Bridge.

Williams is one of 10 Springboks from the recent Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series set to feature in Japan this season. Among them is Pieter-Steph du Toit, who played his 100th Test in South Africa’s 33-26 win over New Zealand in Cape Town, and who returns to Verblitz. Toyota’s All Blacks pair, scrum-half Aaron Smith and winger Mark Telea, remain as the club targets a first play-offs appearance since the League One era began.

Elsewhere, Australian star Mark Nawaqanitawase — who is still chasing a Premiership with Sydney Roosters in the NRL finals — will make his Japan debut for Saitama Wild Knights against Jasper Wiese’s Urayasu D-Rocks, who caused a notable upset by beating the inaugural league champions last season.

Tokyo Sungoliath, who have recruited Ireland winger James Lowe, open against TJ Perenara’s much-improved BlackRams Tokyo under returning coach Keisuke Sawake, who guided the club to their most recent title in 2017. The Yokohama Canon Eagles, meanwhile, welcome All Blacks Samipeni Finau and Stephen Perofeta as replacements for Faf de Klerk and Liam Coltman, beginning with a Kanagawa derby against Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars — a side that welcomes back Springbok winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, who scored seven tries on loan two years ago.

Last season’s runners-up Kubota Spears have added Springbok lock Ruan Nortje and open against Shizuoka BlueRevs, who have brought in Wallaby Hunter Paisami to replace Charles Piutau. Toshiba Brave Lupus face a new era without Todd Blackadder or Richie Mo’unga, with Josh Symes stepping up from assistant to head coach and Harlequins legend Nick Evans joining his backroom staff.