Everingham joins Japanese Rugby

South Sydney winger Andrew Everingham scores. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

WINGER Andrew Everingham will become the second NRL player poached by Japanese rugby through an Asian passport, following in the footsteps of Craig Wing.

Everingham will join second-division club Fukuoka Sanix Blues in October on a massive deal worth nearly $500,000 a year, a significant leap from his annual $130,000 Souths salary. 

Everingham was able to qualify as an Asian player courtesy of his Filipino passport, which makes him valuable in a competition where clubs can only field three non-Asian players at any time. 

The Sanix Blues have also recruited new Waratahs signing Jacques Potgieter, who will play in Japan until February before joining his NSW teammates in Sydney. 

With luck, Everingham could even play in the 2015 World Cup, with the Philippines still in contention in the Asian playoffs.

While Japan is heavily favoured to win that place, the runner-up of the five-nation battle will go into the Repechage playoff for the 20th and final place in the World Cup. 

Everingham's defection follows a big clean-out at the Rabbitohs, who are feeling the pinch of the salary cap as the team dominates the competition and key players are upgraded to ward off poachers. 

It has seen the club shed several other players already, including another talented outside back, Justin Hunt, who yesterday announced a three-year deal with Parramatta. 

Others who are leaving the Burrow include Roy Asotasi, Nathan Peats and Dylan Farrell, while winger Matt King will retire at the end of the year. 

For Everingham, who played rugby at school and represented the Philippines in a rugby Sevens tournament in 2011, the move to Sanix Blues will happen immediately following his commitments with the Rabbitohs, who will feature in the finals. 

Former notable players at the Japanese club include former All Blacks and league hardman Brad Thorn, and former All Black winger Caleb Ralph. 

Sanix Blues are attempting to regain their place in the first division Top League, after finishing last on the table for the 2012-13 season. 

They must play regional teams in a relegation playoff in order to remain in the tournament.

Having won just one of their 13 games last season, Sanix Blues are desperate for more attacking potency and Everingham will be a key purchase for them considering he will not count among the foreign contingency in the squad, which now includes Potgieter and former Kiwi Super Rugby prop Ben May. 

Everingham's career breakthrough came when his manager Chris Haddad sent a DVD highlights package to various league clubs and he was snapped up by Souths coach Michael Maguire. 

The 26-year-old Everingham has 21 tries from 40 NRL games after making his debut in March 2012.

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