Lukhanyo Am ready to lend his 'X-Factor' to Kobe Steelers

Springbok outside centre Lukhanyo Am said he is ready to hit the ground running at his new rugby home for the next two months - the Kobe Steelers in Japan.

Am recently signed for the League One side for a period of two months. At the same time his deal was struck, he had inked a new Sharks deal.

He comes into a struggling Kobe side which has won two of its last eight games.

"What is expected is my X-Factor play. I need to understand my team-mates for us to play well with each other," Am said, as quoted by Yahoo! Japan. 

Am reveals that he was approached last year, but Covid-19 restrictions curtailed those plans.

The Sharks captain said moving to Japan for the next two months was an easy decision given his experience in 2019 with the Springboks.

"Towards the end of last season, I was told by the Steelers about coming for one season to Japan. However, because of the virus, the borders were not open and I couldn't come to Japan," said Am.

"I enjoyed it when I came to Japan at the 2019 World Cup. It was also good to understand Japanese people and culture. It was not difficult to make the decision to get a chance to come to Japan this time," Am said.

He also sympathised with the position the team finds itself in, saying the team had been unlucky in some games and underscored that his contribution to the team, is a contribution to his continued evolution.

"I think I can learn a lot by playing in another country and it's exciting. I want to contribute to the team while testing myself."