Cape Town - Highlanders and All Blacks No 8 Elliot Dixon has signed a deal with Japanese club Ricoh Black Rams.
Dixon, who has played three Tests for the All Blacks, will join the Black Rams in Tokyo after the current Super Rugby season.
The move likely rules him out of All Black contention for 2018.
According to the Stuff.co.nz website, the Black Rams confirmed the news on Monday, as well as the signing of Crusaders midfielder Tim Bateman.
Bateman has already had one stint in Japan, with the Fukuoka-based Red Sparks.
