Former All Black Norm Maxwell expects to call an end to his career in Japan after the current season despite the positive impact the move to Tokyo has had on his life.
The forward left New Zealand in shame last year after a charge of assault following an incident in Dunedin.
Adding injury to insult, he gashed his arm falling through a glass door while celebrating Crusaders’ Super 12 victory.
The incidents led Maxwell to admit publicly he had problems with alcohol, and his move to Japan appeared to come at the right time.
He told Christchurch newspaper The Press: "Living in Tokyo provides a greener and more pleasant backdrop than many would imagine.
"It’s a beautiful place to come. There’s nice people here, very gentle, very polite sort of people.
"It’s really nice to come here and get my body right and get myself right.
"That’s been pretty much the main thing that’s happened."
Fellow New Zealanders Glen Osborne, Nathan Mauger and Bryce Robbins have helped him settle, but Maxwell expects to turn down a contract extension in order to go home.
He admitted he wants to return to Canterbury in a coaching capacity, adding: "It’s hard to say at the moment, I think pretty much this will be my last year and I’ll retire."
