Standing 6ft 8in, Warner Dearns honed his elite skills at Kashiwa Senior High School through an unconventional development regimen that included gymnastics. He gained vital international experience after debuting at 19 and subsequently featured in all four of Japan's matches at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Although he recently claimed a Super Rugby title during a sabbatical with the Hurricanes, Dearns rejected informal suggestions to switch his international allegiance to New Zealand.
Key points
Warner Dearns firmly dismissed suggestions to undergo a three-year stand-down period to r…: Warner Dearns firmly dismissed suggestions to undergo a three-year stand-down period to represent the All Blacks.
The forward remains deeply dedicated to Japan, where he became fluent in the language and…: The forward remains deeply dedicated to Japan, where he became fluent in the language and where his son was born.
Fresh off winning a Super Rugby title with the Hurricanes, Dearns brings vital championsh…: Fresh off winning a Super Rugby title with the Hurricanes, Dearns brings vital championship experience to Japan's pack against England.
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- Published
Warner Dearns didn't want to go to Japan. Now, he doesn't want to leave.
A decade ago, Dearns' father Grant got a job as a strength and conditioning coach with top-flight Japanese side NEC Green Rockets, taking the family from New Zealand's North Island to a satellite city outside Tokyo.
For Dearns, like most 14-year-olds, swapping class-mates, countries, continents and cultures didn't appeal.
"I said I didn't want to go," says the second row, who will co-captain Japan against England at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
"My sister and I wanted to stay with our grandma and grandad [in New Zealand]."
But, reluctantly, they made the trip, with Dearns' mother Tanya, a former New Zealand netballer, giving up her own coaching job to help the family settle in Japan.
"The first year or two took a bit to adapt to, it is a very different culture from New Zealand, and the language barrier didn't help much either," remembers Dearns.
"At high school there was no-one else who spoke English. I was the kid who stood out, the only one…
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