World-class Japanese back-rower Kazuki Himeno says he would love to return to the Highlanders to rekindle his love affair with the Dunedin club that ended prematurely after only one season.
The 27-year-old Toyota Verblitz star was brilliant for the Highlanders last season during his one-year deal, and his strong ball carrying and ability over the ball have been missed.
The Highlanders would take him back in a heartbeat, and speaking to reporters from Japan on Tuesday evening, Himeno made it clear those feelings were reciprocal.
“Honestly speaking, I did want to stay longer,” Himeno said via an interpreter. “Jamie Joseph wanted me to come back and play for [Japan] as well, so it was a contract for a one-year challenge.
“I loved the town of Dunedin, and I loved playing alongside all the boys at the Highlanders as well. Given any chances in the future I’d go back.”
For good measure, Himeno said he wouldn’t return to Super Rugby for any other team apart from the Highlanders, where he earned the moniker “Mr Passion” for his workrate on game day and on the training paddock.
Whether Himeno ever returns depends on Toyota Verblitz powerbrokers, including former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, who is director of rugby – and it would be no surprise if they held on tightly to the prized asset.
Himeno is one of the stars of Japan Rugby League One and the Brave Blossoms, and the knowledge he brought back to Japan is now being used to lift standards there.
“Overall, it was an amazing experience,” he said. “One thing was to step out of my comfort zone and to be in a foreign land where I’ve never been, which would put me under stress.
“It was a tough condition to be in, but I really think it benefited me greatly in my career.
“I was learning heaps from guys like Aaron Smith and Ash Dixon, really true great leaders. They have really shown me and taught me was how to actually drive people around and that’s something I’ve really taken back.”
Toyota Verblitz coach Simon Cron – who will take over at the Western Force next year – said Himeno’s influence among the Japanese players at the club was huge.
In fact, they had to structure the week so that he had some “Himeno time” to concentrate on his own game, rather than worrying about carrying the whole side.
Himeno’s feats at the Highlanders were made all the more impressive because of the language barrier, but he said that he had managed to overcome that hurdle.
“Obviously, my English isn’t that good, but even with that I was happy that I could make a direct impact and influence the team in a positive way,” he said.
“I’ve learned even without language, I just needed to show what I could do on the field and that’s how I showed my leadership. I could benefit the team by doing that, and that’s probably why they called me Mr Passion at the Highlanders.”
Himeno will be a key player for the Japanese test team when they host France in July, and Sanzaar will have to decide in the next year or so if the Brave Blossoms should be part of an expanded competition after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Himeno was confident that Japan would get up to speed if they were given the opportunity, but also said it was “critical” that Japanese Rugby League One players were exposed to Super Rugby opposition to bridge the gap between domestic competition and the test arena.
“Super Rugby…is the highest competitive league in the world in a rugby sense,” Himeno said. “For the Japanese boys to have the opportunity to be in this kind of environment is critical. It’s very important.
“I think the Japanese boys can actually shine and benefit the teams in a Super environment.”
