Former New Zealand Super Rugby player Dan Bowden has signed with the Japanese national team as their attack coach.
Bowden, 38 will work alongside Eddie Jones who is the head coach.
Bowden a first-five played over 20 games for the Highlanders as well as six each for the Crusaders and Blues.
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He also spent time playing NPC for Northland, Otago and Auckland and overseas playing stints in Europe.
There's plenty of New Zealand and international influence in the Brave Blossoms coaching ranks
Former test forwards Owen Franks and Victor Matfield have also been brought into the Brave Blossoms coaching set up.
Capped 108 times for the All Black, Franks joins as Assistant Coach, while Matfield, the most capped Springbok of all time, with 127 caps will support the team as a Technical Advisor.
They are joined by David Kidwell who had a prominent career playing rugby league in Australia and England. He was also capped 25 times for New Zealand in league.
Japan have a heavy schedule of home matches, including two against the Māori All Blacks and one against the All Blacks in October in Yokohama.
Away they face France and England.
Japan Rugby 2024 Match Schedule* Tickets: http://en.rugby-japan.jp/ticket/
Saturday 22 JuneLipovitan D Challenge Cup 2024 Japan vs EnglandNational Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday 29 JuneJapan XV vs Māori All Blacks*Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday 6 JulyJapan XV vs Māori All Blacks*Toyota Stadium, Toyota City
Saturday 13 JulyJapan vs GeorgiaYurtek Stadium, Sendai
Sunday 21 JulyJapan vs ItalySapporo Dome, Sapporo
Saturday 26 OctoberLipovitan D Challenge Cup 2024 Japan vs All BlacksNissan Stadium, Yokohama
Saturday, 9 NovemberFrance vs JapanStade de France, Paris
Sunday, 24 NovemberEngland vs JapanTwickenham Stadium, London
*Non-test Matches