All Blacks star Beauden Barrett to return to Japan

Barrett and Aaron Smith have signed to play for Toyota Verblitz after the World Cup.

EASTERN PROMISE: Beauden Barrett during New Zealand All Blacks rugby squad training at UCD Bowl in Dublin. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

All Blacks superstar Beauden Barrett and veteran scrumhalf Aaron Smith have signed to play for Japanese side Toyota Verblitz after the World Cup, New Zealand rugby said in a statement Tuesday.

Both men have more than 100 Test caps and were world cup winners, bringing a wealth of experience to a side already led by legendary All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.