Pablo Matera will play in Japan for Honda Heat. The 86-time capped Puma will not play for the Crusaders in 2023; instead, he will play in Asia. The flanker has previously played for the Leicester Tigers, Jaguares, Stade Français and Crusaders.
The player from Alumni in Buenos Aires will arrive at the Japanese club in early 2023. He will play out the remainder of Los Pumas’ 2022 test matches and then move to Honda Heat. He will join the Honda Heat in 2023, the year of the World Cup in France.
The move comes after Matera turned-down an offer from Bath. He will arrive at the club at the age of 29. He will turn 30 between then and the World Cup. Off he is selected, RWC 2023 will be Matera’s third Rugby World Cup. He was a starting flanker at both the 2015 and 2019 tournaments. He captained Argentina in the latter.