World Cup-winning All Black Jerome Kaino is leaving New Zealand rugby to play in Japan.
The Blues loose forward has signed for the Toyota club on a two-year contract.
The timing opens up the prospect of his returning to New Zealand ahead of the next Rugby World Cup in 2015.
He described weighing up his immediate future as being the most difficult decision of his career.
Kaino, 28, is out of rugby for six months after undergoing surgery for a shoulder injury he picked up in a Super Rugby match against the Chiefs three weeks ago.
He made his debut for the All Blacks against the Barbarians in 2004 and played the first of his 48 Tests two years later against Ireland.
He was a stand-out for New Zealand in last year’s World Cup, and would have played through all seven matches but for being subbed in the final minute of the quarterfinal against Australia.
Kaino went on to be named New Zealand’s player of the year.