Big names shine in opening round of star-studded Japanese Top League

The Japanese Top League kicked off this weekend and some of the game’s biggest stars showed their true abilities in round one.

All Blacks legend Beauden Barrett scored a try and set up some lovely plays for Suntory Sungoliath against Mitsubishi Dynaboars while Tevita Li bagged himself an incredible five tries en route to a 7-75 win for Sungoliath.

Welcome to the Japanese Top League Beauden Barrett 👏 First game, first try ✅

Mitsubishi Dynaboars v Suntory Sungoliath in the Japanese Top League is LIVE now on Stan Sport. pic.twitter.com/Xv52395aFQ

— Stan Sport (@StanSportAU) February 21, 2021

Wallabies flanker Michael Hooper also produced some lovely moments for Toyota Verblitz alongside Kieran Read in the back row to help the side to a 34-33 win over Toshiba Brave Lupus.

Some big plays from Michael Hooper on debut in Japan's Top League pic.twitter.com/2n66QY8Bsu

— Stan Sport (@StanSportAU) February 20, 2021

To mark the opening round of the Top League World Rugby released an awesome highlights reel of 10 players to watch throughout the season in Japan while other internationals in the league include Colin Slade, Samu Kerevi, Ryan Crotty, TJ Perenara, Alex Goode and Jack Lam.