Overseas experiences can be a mixed bag for players. Make that anyone, really.
But for Craig Millar, getting out of his comfort zone and living in Japan has been a real step forward both on and off the field.
Millar is about to start his fourth season with the Panasonic Wild Knights side in Japan. Competition starts in the middle of next month.
He is based in Ota City, a small city about 90 minutes’ drive outside Tokyo.
He said he was finding the city and the lifestyle rewarding in many ways.
"I have found it really awesome, to be honest — a real change in lifestyle for me.
"I was born in Dunedin, grew up in Dunedin, went to school there, played rugby there, played for Otago, played professional rugby there and that was how it was," he said.
"But now I’m in a completely different culture and environment.
"There is no real point holding back when you are over here. You have got to put yourself out there. The more that you give then the more you get back in return."
He was increasing his Japanese language lessons and said the Japanese players really appreciated foreign players attempting to speak the native tongue and embracing the culture.
Millar said some of the quirks of Japanese life were tough to get used to but there was always time to explore.
"I live just outside Tokyo and though I have been here three years there are still new places to explore, new places to find.
"It’s a bit different than the Octagon and St Clair. I still get back to Dunedin and it is good to catch up with friends and family. But home will always be there and I’m starting to realise that.
"You come back [to Dunedin] and things do not change. But what that makes you think is you have got to make the most of the time overseas, all the experiences it has to offer. That is a cool change in mindset."
On the field, Millar is working hard for the Panasonic side which is bound to be in contention for the Japan Top League.
The prop said the standard of rugby was constantly climbing.
"The top five or even six teams would really push a Mitre 10 Cup team. It is hard one to judge as the style of rugby is different. But I would definitely like to see it.
"It is very quick and very structured here."
Players worked hard to fulfil their roles on the paddock and the Japanese strength in discipline shone through.
The Panasonic side has two props and two hookers who also play for the Japanese team so there is plenty of competition among the players.
"They love scrums, something they really take pride in. They put a lot of passion into them.
"In my three years here I have had to make a lot of adjustments. Initially it was such a different skill set — I could not believe how low they got, how they pushed on these new angles."
Millar said it had been hard work but that was professional rugby.
The Japanese have long pre-seasons and this season is no different, having started in August.
Millar said money was, of course, a big motivation in playing in Japan but it was far from a holiday these days.
Japanese players were improving all the time and though there were bound to be mismatches in the coming season there would be plenty of tight games of a high standard.
Teams are limited to five foreign players on the field at any time. Two of them could be capped and the other three are non-capped.
Millar said that limit played into his hands and he was lucky at Panasonic as most teams favoured foreign players being key playmakers — which he admitted was not as a prop.
The side is coached by former Crusaders and Australian coach Robbie Deans and Millar said he had really warmed to Deans and his style.
Deans was an ultra competitive person and his nature rubbed off on the players.
Millar had not been approached to play for Japan and it was not something he had even thought about.
Covid-19 had hit the Japan top league like all sport and last season was rubbed out in March.
It did not return and Millar was now looking forward to the new season. He was signed on for two more seasons.
Japan’s strict discipline across the country had kept coronavirus cases relatively low, he said, and the time off had allowed him to travel around the country.
Millar played for the Highlanders in 2014, a shoulder injury put him out of 2015, when the Highlanders won the title, and he played another couple of seasons after that.
All up he played 10 games for the Highlanders and 45 games for Otago.
One day the qualified accountant may come back and play for the blue and golds but it is not a pressing concern.
"When I look back at my time in Dunedin and Super Rugby, I did not take the opportunities which I was given and that is down to me.
"But by coming here I have been put out of my comfort zone and have developed my game. I run with the ball more, get round the park, lost a bit of weight.
"You never say never and I would love to come back and play for Otago. But I’m pretty keen to stay here and keep doing what I am doing."
