I’m no Rugby World Cup fluke: Brave Blossoms star Ayumu Goromaru out to prove talent at Queensland Reds

The Brave Blossoms' superstar fullback Ayumu Goromaru said yesterday that he expected to show the world that his Rugby World Cup performance was not a fluke, as he heads to Australia on a one-year contract.

Goromaru, who led Japan's shock 34-32 defeat of South Africa at the World Cup, signed with the Queensland Reds in the 2016 Super Rugby tournament.

Named in the just-concluded Rugby World Cup's "Dream Team", Goromaru joins a Reds squad that finished 13th overall on the Super Rugby table and fourth in the Australian conference, not managing to advance to the finals series last season.

"I'll do my best to show everyone in Japan that I can compete on the world stage," Goromaru said yesterday.

"I will be starting from zero and want to enjoy each and every challenge. I will be in an environment where I can play high level rugby. The last four years of training have been the hardest."

The 29-year-old will head to Australia at the end of the 2016 Top League season in Japan in February, departing after playing his career in his homeland.