Veteran Highlanders hooker Ash Dixon is heading to Japan on a two-year deal.
The co-captain of the Super Rugby trans-Tasman finalists is linking up with Japanese League One club, NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu.
Dixon was an integral part of the Highlanders side that lifted the Super Rugby trophy in 2015 and made his 100th appearance for the franchise against the Blues on the trans-Tasman final.
Dixon has also been a long servant of the Maori All Blacks and recently captained them to two victories against Manu Samoa.
"He has been an integral part of the club since his arrival, he has significant mana within the team and has put an enormous amount of work into our organisation," CEO Roger Clark says of Dixon's influence.
"He goes with our good wishes and gratitude."
Coach Tony Brown says Dixon will go down as one of the best players in franchise history.
"His contribution to the club both on and off the field has been immense, as co-captain he has been the ultimate professional and we wish him, Mikayla, Paiyton and Boston all the very best with this fantastic opportunity," Brown says.
Dixon says it was difficult to put his Highlanders stint behind him.
"I’ve put a lot of thought into it and it was not an easy decision for myself and my family to make," he says.
"I’ve had some incredibly great times with the team, and I will cherish them forever."
In all, Dixon played 115 Super Rugby games (15 with the Hurricanes) and 108 provincial games for Hawke's Bay - whom he will continue to play for this season.
Dixon played 19 times for the Maori All Blacks and was capped at the underage level for New Zealand.
