Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars front-rower Tomoaki Ishii has joined the Leicester Tigers squad as a training participant for the pre-season.
The opportunity for the 29-year-old became available as part of the Performance Partnership between the two organisations, which was announced in January.
Ishii played alongside Lewis Chessum at the Dynaboars during the 2025 campaign in Division 1 of Japan Rugby League One, when the Leicester lock spent the season on loan in Kanagawa.
The tighthead prop is the first player to be offered the training opportunity as part of the Performance Partnership, following Dynaboars staff, including coaching and management, who have enjoyed educational and professional development spells at Tigers.
Speaking about Ishii, Head of Pathway & Rugby Partnerships James Wade said: "We are very pleased to have Ishii here with us and excited for the opportunity this presents him to not only experience our training, but also the Leicester Tigers club and rugby in England. Equally so, the personal cultural experience he gets from being able to be in the United Kingdom."
"This is another great example of the Performance Partnerships with Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars at work and the wonderful experiences it not only presents both rugby programmes to learn from one another but also for individuals, whether it be players or coaches or staff, to gain life experience."
