Taranaki forward Soqeta heading to Japan

ROBERT CHARLES/Taranaki Daily News

GONE: Taranaki utility forward Nemia Soqeta has quit New Zealand rugby to take up a two-year contract in Japan.

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Powerful Taranaki utility forward Nemia Soqeta has quit New Zealand rugby to take up a two-year contract in Japan.

Soqeta's agent, Bruce Sharrock, confirmed the 25-year-old had signed the deal with an undisclosed club side in Japan.

Sharrock would not release any further details about the move, saying it was up to the Japanese club to release details publicly about the signing.

The Fijian-born Soqeta has been a Taranaki squad member for two years, making 20 appearances under departed coach Adrian Kennedy.

He spent most of the 2008 season playing on the flank, but was switched to lock for the majority of his appearances last year, usually from the bench.

At 196cm and 117kg, Soqeta was viewed as a perfect impact player, but he was surprisingly used only sparingly by Kennedy last season after a barnstorming club season for Clifton that netted him 13 tries.

Taranaki assistant coach Leo Crowley was disappointed that Soqeta would not be available for the national provincial championship.

"It's a huge loss for us," he said yesterday, "with the work that has gone in with Nemia in the last couple of years, probably the last three or four years. To lose him in what is about to be his prime is very disappointing."

Crowley said Taranaki had tried to keep Soqeta on contract, but the Japanese offer had been too tempting.

"I can understand why he has gone. You know, he's young, he's got a family, and family back in Fiji as well. It's just sad we never got to see his real potential."

Soqeta follows his older brother, Tomasi, to Japan. Tomasi left Taranaki in 2007 after making 34 appearances to take up a contract with Suntory Sungoliath.

One-test All Black and Hurricanes utility back Tamati Ellison last week announced he had also signed a two-year deal in Japan, citing the opportunity to shift before the player market is flooded next year post the rugby World Cup as a major reason for the move.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed yesterday former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga would return to New Zealand as player-assistant coach for Counties Manukau over the next two years.

Counties Manukau chief executive Phil McConnell said Umaga, who had been coaching at Toulon in France since 2007, was keen to return home.

"The board took action as soon as we became aware that Tana was looking to return home to further his coaching career and be closer to his family," he said.

Counties Manukau coach Milton Haig said part of Umaga's role would be to assist with the coaching and development of the young players.

-with NZPA

- © Fairfax NZ News