The Auckland Blues on Monday announced former All Black Tanerau Latimer had signed for a season-long loan from his Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus.
The Blues said Latimer, 29, would provide valuable experience to a young Blues outfit that is rebuilding under new coach Tana Umaga.
“Tanerau always set high standards for himself and his teammates on and off the field, and his influence will be massive for us,” Umaga said.
The loose forward will replace rising star Akira Ioane, who will miss the Super Rugby competition next year to play sevens for New Zealand at the Rio Olympics.
“Every group needs some old heads around. I see my biggest asset will be to offer some leadership and guidance and to set standards during training and games,” Latimer said.
He played five Tests for the All Blacks in 2009 and appeared in more than 100 Super Rugby matches for the Waikato Chiefs before moving to Japan last year.
Latimer will move to New Zealand after the Japanese season ends in early 2016 and stay for the duration of the Super competition, which concludes in early August.