Matt Todd will take up a short-term contract with Japan’s Panasonic Wild Knights, but has re-committed to the New Zealand Rugby Union and Crusaders for 2019.
The 30-year-old loose forward, who scored a try off the bench in New Zealand’s 49-14 win over France in Dunedin on Saturday, will join the Wild Knights for the 2018 Top League season and link up after the Super Rugby season ends.
The Top League runs from August to December. Fellow Cantabrian Robbie Deans has coached Panasonic since 2014.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to come to Panasonic,” Todd said in the club’s statement. “I know they are a successful club who play a great style of rugby and are very well coached.