Richard Buckman is expected to be unavailable to play in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Highlanders Tom Franklin and Richard Buckman will soon be working under former All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith and playing alongside ex-All Black Dan Carter in Japan.

Lock Franklin and utility back Buckman have announced they both signed two-year deals with the Kobe Steelers, but indicated they wanted to return to the Highlanders to play Super Rugby next year.

Smith, who was the All Blacks head coach between 2000 and 2001, and also worked as an assistant under head coaches Steve Hansen, Graham Henry and John Hart during their tenures, is the general manager of the Japanese club.

GETTY IMAGES Highlanders lock Tom Franklin, who will play alongside Dan Carter in Japan, wants to return to the club next year.

The head coach is Dave Dillon, while Nick Holten, Steve Cumberland, Andries Bekker and Scott Hansen are also on the coaching staff.

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Carter, who will leave French racing club Racing 92 at the end of the northern season, is the the biggest star on Kobe's books and will join the outfit once his duties with the Parisian club are complete.

Franklin has been with the Highlanders since 2014 and has made 59 appearances.

"At this stage of my career the chance to play for Kobe was too good to turn down," he said in a statement. "I have had a fantastic time down south but it's a good time to explore other opportunities, I am hoping to return in 2019 for one last go with the Highlanders."

Buckman, who is currently injured and not expected back on the field for another few weeks, also said he wanted to return to the Highlanders next year.

"I'm excited to start a new chapter in my footy career with the added bonus of the opportunity to come back and maybe play one more season for the Highlanders in 2019. I love playing for the Landers so I hope it's not too much longer until I'm out there again this season."

In recent years former Highlanders Joe Wheeler and Pat Osborne for Japanese clubs, and returned to play another season for the Highlanders.

Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark indicated in the prepared statement that Buckman and Franklin could return to the Dunedin-based club in 2019.

"Bucky and Tom have been mainstays of our team over the last few seasons and always give 100 per cent," Clark said. "We are close to signing agreements to secure their return for 2019; in the meantime we wish them well during their time with Kobe."

Crusaders back rower Jordan Taufua will also join a Japanese club, a second-division side called the Dynaboars, after Super Rugby. This will prevent him playing for Tasman, but he will be back for Super Rugby next year.

Franklin and Buckman are also expected to be unavailable to play in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Highlanders No 8 Luke Whitelock, who his played two games for the All Blacks, is also considering a similar deal to play in Japan. If he accepts it he will not return to captain Canterbury in their premiership title defence, but could be back to represent the Highlanders.

These deals are not great news for the provincial sides, but they help NZ Rugby keep players in the country. Whitelock, Taufua, Franklin and Buckman will provide insurance in case tier-one players get injured, possibly allowing them to be selected for the All Blacks in World Cup year.

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