Alando Soakai is off to play in Japan at the end of the Super 15 season and has played his last game for Otago.
Soakai revealed yesterday, on the eve of playing his 50th game for the Highlanders, that he has signed a two-year deal with the Kubota Spears club in Japan, and will move north when the Super 15 season ends in June.
"The time feels right. The coaches are happy with what I'm doing and have given me their full support," he said.
He had talked over the decision with friends and family and felt it was the best move at this stage of his career.
Soakai (27) would link up with former Otago team-mate Seilala Mapusua at the Japanese club.
Mapusua has left the London Irish club to move to Japan.
Soakai was not apprehensive about moving with his wife, Debbie Hill, to Japan in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami there as the Kubota club is located in Funabashi, on the outskirts of Tokyo.
But before that move there is the small matter of keeping the Highlanders on a roll, and chalking up victories.
He will mark his 50th game for the franchise when he takes the field at Carisbrook against the Cheetahs on Friday night.
"It's almost dragged on at times but at other times it has gone fast when we have actually won some games. I've battled away over the last couple of years and am really looking forward to getting that 50 games, to be honest.
"There are a lot of sacrifices along the way. A good couple of years I have stayed off the booze and it has made a difference. The only time I've had a beer during this season was at my wedding, so yes, that was good."
Soakai made his debut when he came off the bench against the Force in Perth in the opening game of the 2007 season.
The Highlanders won 8-7.
"They came at us really hard in the last 10 to 15 minutes. I gave away a penalty and Coops [coach Greg Cooper] had a good talk to me about it after that game."
Asked to mention highlights of his career with the Highlanders, he said beating the Crusaders in 2009 was a game to remember. but what was happening now would be hard to beat.
"It is getting late into my career but we are starting to win a couple of games. I honestly think the coaching staff worked hard in the off-season and we've worked hard as a leadership group and it is paying off.
"The credit has to go to Jamie [Joseph, the coach] and Whopper [captain Jamie Mackintosh]. Whopper has taken it by the horns and playing and leading the team so well."
Soakai said the change in attitude of the players this year was paramount last Friday night in Invercargill when the side got home against the Brumbies in a tight encounter.
"In the past we would have given that game away. We were down to 14 men and managed to score a try. I think it was self belief. We we have trained in those situations . . . so if that happens that is what we have to do."
He said it was a great team to play in, as everyone was supportive and got on well with each other.
Soakai was born and bred in Auckland, and came south to study physical education at the University of Otago.
Of Tongan extraction, he won a Commonwealth Games gold medal in Melbourne in 2006 and also played for New Zealand Juniors in 2009.
But with plenty of talented players in front of him he never quite made it to the black jersey of the All Blacks.
And because of those games in Melbourne and playing for the Juniors he cannot play for Tonga at this year's World Cup.
"It's something I'm pretty gutted about. I would love to play in the World Cup in New Zealand. Who wouldn't?
"As soon as I found out the World Cup was in New Zealand I thought about it but then it was 'ahhh, no'."
