James Grayson: Ex-Northampton fly-half open to playing for Japan

Having previously played for England’s Under-20 side, he would have to serve a five-year qualifying period to be eligible to play for Japan.

“My partner’s going to move out in September with the dog, if we can get his vaccines sorted. I’m going to dig my teeth in for two years, it’ll be three years in Japan then. You never know which way it might go, I might come back to England, I might carry on in Japan, [I’ll] take it as it comes,” he said.

“International rugby is definitely an ambition of mine. I’m never going to shut out the opportunity to play international rugby, whether that be for England or Japan.

“It’s an amazing country and culture, and if I spend enough time there, then yes, 100%, I’d be open to playing for them.”