Stan Sport has today added another prized catch to its rugby bounty by landing the rights to broadcast the star-studded Japan Top League.
The 2021 Top League season kicks off on Saturday at 4pm AEDT and select matches will stream ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport.
Japan went rugby mad during the 2019 World Cup and that momentum has continued with the Top League's signing of a genuine who's who of the global game.
Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is one of the headline acts at Toyota Verblitz, playing alongside former All Blacks skipper Kieran Read.
At Suntory Sungoliath, blockbusting Aussie centre Samu Kerevi and backrower Sean McMahon are joined by New Zealand superstar Beauden Barrett.
Rugby fans can also catch fan favourites like Brodie Retallick (Kobelco Steelers) and Bernard Foley (Kubota Spears) among a strong overseas contingent.
Hooper and Read will team up for the first time as Toyota Verblitz take on Toshiba Brave Lupus on Saturday.
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https://twitter.com/tomdecent/status/1362279356173742082?s=20"A lot of the Japanese boys have been giving me a little bit of stick about it — we've been so used to being on the opposition side," Read said.
"We actually get along really well.
"It's probably a bit strange for a lot of people looking at it, but it's been working well so far.
"He hasn't been with the side as long as we'd like but he's a very professional player, so he got up to speed really quick and he's got to know the guys."
The competition joins Stan's already huge rugby lineup, with Stan's add-on sport package the only place to watch every match of Super Rugby AU, Super Rugby Aotearoa, Super Rugby trans-Tasman, The Rugby Championship, Bledisloe Cup, Shute Shield, Hospital Challenge Cup, Currie Cup and New Zealand's National Provincial Championship, plus Super W, Wallabies and Wallaroos Test matches, SANZAAR union home Tests and more.
Stan's add-on sport package is available for $10 a month and consumers can activate now ahead of tonight's Super Rugby AU doubleheader to get a 30 day free trial for a limited time only.
Activating is as simple as visiting: Stan.com.au/sport
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from WWOS https://wwos.nine.com.au/rugby/japan-top-league-rugby-2021-stan-sport-deal-michael-hooper-kieran-read/3f4ef79d-463c-4f18-b048-6a28e154994b
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