Super Rugby will head to the land of the rising sun in 2024, with both the Blues and Chiefs taking pre-season matches to Japan.
As part of a new partnership between New Zealand Rugby and Japan's Rugby Football Union, the two Kiwi sides will take on four separate sides from Rugby League One in the newly minted 'Cross-Border Rugby 2024'.
Held in early February, the Blues will face off against Suntory Sungoliath and Yokohama Canon Eagles, while the Chiefs match up against Panasonic Wild Knights and Kubota Spears Funabashi.
And as NZ Rugby continues to strengthen its ties with Japan, it's hoped the crossover will grow Super Rugby in the game's most exciting developing market.
"It is great to see the Gallagher Chiefs and Blues playing pre-season matches in Japan," said NZR chief executive Mark Robinson.
"This was one of the opportunities we identified when signing the memorandum of understanding with Japan Rugby earlier this year so it's nice to see it come to fruition."
There are familiar faces scattered through the four Japanese sides about to take on the Super Rugby outfits as well.
The Sungoliath are home to former All Blacks first-five Aaron Cruden, as well as ex-Blues winger Tevita Li, and loose forward Blake Gibson, as well as Tom Sanders, formerly of the Crusaders.
All Blacks captain Sam Cane has also just signed for the Sungoliath, as he takes a sabbatical away from the Chiefs for the 2024 season.
The Wild Knights are home to former Chiefs loose forward Lachlan Boshier, as well as Kiwis Vince Aso and Liam Mitchell, while ex-Crusaders coach Robbie Deans is the team's director of rugby.
After retiring from test rugby after this year's World Cup, hooker Dane Coles has signed a one-season contract with Kubota, where he will finish his playing career altogether.
The Chiefs open Super Rugby on February 23, when they host the seven-time reigning champion Crusaders in Hamilton.
The Blues meanwhile begin their campaign a day later, hosting Fijian Drua at Whangarei's Semenoff Stadium on February 24.
Cross-Border Rugby 2024 fixtures:
February 3: Suntory Sungoliath v Blues, Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
February 4: Panasonic Wild Knights v Chiefs, Kumagaya Rugby Stadium
February 10: Kubota Spears v Chiefs. Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
February 10: Yokohama Canon Eagles v Blues, Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium
