Super Rugby
Masaga wings his way to Japan
March 25, 2013
The Chiefs' Lelia Masaga on the attack against Southern Kings, Super Rugby, Southern Kings v Chiefs, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, March 15, 2013
Lelia Masaga will join Richard Kahui in Japan © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Lelia Masaga
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Teams: Chiefs | New Zealand

One-Test All Blacks winger Lelia Masaga is the latest Chiefs player to announce he will leave Super Rugby's defending champions at the end of the season after signing a deal to play in Japan.

Masaga, 26, who played his only Test against Italy in 2009, will join the Honda club on a two-year deal.

He joins centre Richard Kahui in Japan after the All Black agreed a two-season stint with Toshiba, while Chiefs co-captain, lock Craig Clarke, is off to Irish province Connacht.

Masaga, who scored three tries when the Chiefs beat the Southern Kings 35-24 earlier this month, has made 80 appearances for the franchise since making his debut in 2006.

"This was a really tough decision to make. The Chiefs have been an important part of my life for eight years, but this was just simply an opportunity that was too good to turn down," Masaga said.

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie said: "Lelia is a highly valued part of the Chiefs family, but at his stage of his career this is a fantastic chance for Lelia and his family and we wish them well."

© AAP

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