Blues fullback Matt Duffie among four players signed by Honda Heat

Honda Heat have confirmed the signing of four players including Blues fullback Matt Duffie ahead of the 2021 season.

Earlier, former All Blacks duo Ben Smith and Aaron Cruden were signed by Kobelco Steelers and now another New Zealander Duffie will head to Japan leaving Super Rugby.

Duffie has been provincial side North Harbour and Super Rugby side Blues since 2016 and played for New Zealand in 2017.

The 29-year-old has been joined by three South Africans Franco Mostert, Matthys Basson and Jean-Luc du Plessis as the fresh additions for the Heat's next campaign.

Mostert will join Heat from Gloucester and already has the experience in Japan when he represented Ricoh Black Rams between 2016 and 2018. He also has experience of playing for Lions and Blue Bulls. He has also played 39 times for the Springboks and was part of the World Cup winning squad in Japan last year.

Meanwhile, Basson has been part of Bulls since 2018 while Jean-Luc du Plessis will join Heat after playing for Stormers between 2016 and 2020. He has also represented South Africa Under 20 in the past.