The ACT Brumbies have confirmed Australia U20s captain Toby Macpherson will spend a year on loan with Japanese powerhouse Toyota Verblitz.
The deal sees Macpherson link up with the likes of Springboks superstar Pieter-Steph du Toit and All Blacks legend Aaron Smith for the 2024-25 season.
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He will then return to the nation's capital, signed until the end of the 2027 season.
"We'd like to wish Australia's U20s skipper and U20 Player of the Year Toby Macpherson the best of luck in Japan after signing for Toyota Verblitz on loan for 2024/25," the Brumbies said via social media.
"We're looking forward to Toby returning to us in June next year for the 2026 and 2027 seasons."
Macpherson is one of the brightest tight five prospects in the country after featuring in back-to-back U20 World Championships.
This includes captaining the side at this year's competition, finishing sixth after a defeat to Argentina.
Macpherson was rewarded for his strong season at the Rugby Australia Awards, named Junior Men's Player of the Year.
The second-rower was excited about the challenge that awaited him in Japan.
"I am extremely excited to be joining the Toyota Verblitz," he said via a statement on the club's website.
"I am looking forward to meeting all the Verblitz supporters and learning about the awesome Japanese culture, whilst becoming a better player through my experiences with the players and coaching staff at Toyota Verblitz."
Toyota Verblitz is coming off a sixth place finish in Japan Rugby League One, coached by Steven Hansen and Ian Foster.
