Big in Japan, Shota Horie is back in Melbourne Rebels colours to bolster front-row options

SHOTA Horie has returned to Melbourne to strengthen the Rebels now imposing front row stocks.

FRESH from a watershed season in Japan, Shota Horie has returned to Melbourne to strengthen the Rebels now imposing front row stocks.

Horie captained Panasonic Wild Knights to the Japan Rugby Top League championship — and was back in Australia within a day to prepare for the Super Rugby season.

The Japanese hooker was one of seven Panasonic Wild Knights representatives named in the competition’s all-star XV as former Wallabies utility Berrick Barnes was acclaimed as the Top League’s most valuable player.

Horie runs past a Tongan defender during Japan’s Rugby World Cup game in 2011.

Horie’s arrival provides options for Rebels coach Tony McGahan as Melbourne prepares for next week’s season-opener against the Cheetahs at AAMI Park.

Overshadowed last year by Ged Robinson, Horie and the impressive Pat Leafa are likely to share rake duties against the Cheetahs on February 28.

Steve Fualau is also a contender for the No 2 jersey.

Horie is tackled by Tonga lock Paino Hehea.

The first Japanese international to represent an Australian Super Rugby club, Horie played six matches for the Rebels in 2013.

With recruit Tom Sexton sidelined for the season with a knee injury, Horie, Leafa and Fualau will shoulder plenty of responsibility.

Buoyed by three consecutive trial match wins over NSW, Hurricanes and Queensland, Melbourne has the bye this week.

It will then face the Cheetahs (home), Force (Perth), Crusaders (home, NSW (Sydney) and Brumbies (home) in a fascinating start to the season.

The Rebels last season finished 12th with a club record five wins.

The Cheetahs lost at the weekend to the Lions and face the Bulls in Bloemfontein on Friday night before travelling to Melbourne.

The Africans then continue onto Queensland to play the Reds before a two-match stint in NZ.