Kazuki Himeno high on life as Highlanders stint has him primed for Lions test

Japan’s Kazuki Himeno: ‘If the coaches trust me, I’m ready.’

The Highlanders were three games deep into their Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign by the time Kazuki Himeno was cleared to make his debut in late March. Six weeks and five games later and the Japan back row was being named the tournament’s rookie of the year.

That he hit the ground running in New Zealand isn’t a total shock given the impact he made with the Brave Blossoms during the 2019 World Cup but the alacrity with which he adapted to such elite and new surrounds was still something to behold.