Clareto Monsorate

Top former international rugby players and coaches seem to be heading to Japan.

All Blacks’ Beauden John Barrett is one of several big names to have moved to Japan in recent years, with former international teammate Kieran Read and Australia skipper Michael Hooper also lining up this season.

England head coach Eddie Jones is a consultant at Suntory, while former All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen is director of rugby at Toyota Verblitz.

Joining the bandwagon is former Australia head coach Michael Cheika.

The 2015 World Rugby Coach of the Year has been named director of rugby at Japanese side NEC Green Rockets, the club announced on Thursday.

Cheika will hope to lift the team that finished bottom of their conference with seven defeats from seven games in this season’s Top League.

“I am very excited to be joining NEC in this new role,” the 54-year-old said in a statement released by NEC.

“Together with the company, the coaches and the players we will aspire to bring back the DNA of the NEC Green Rockets to bring pride and enjoyment to the whole NEC community.

“I look forward to working hard together with everyone to orchestrate a brighter world for NEC rugby and rugby in Japan.”

Prior to joining the Green Rockets, Cheika who has Lebanese ancestry, was appointed head coach of Lebanon’s national rugby league team last November, ahead of this year’s Rugby League World Cup.