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Edinburgh and Scotland lock Scott MacLeod confirmed Monday that he was heading to Japan.

While there was still no official confirmation from the club, MacLeod told reporters in Scotland that he had signed for Kobe Kobelco Steelers and that he would arrive in the port city in June.

The decision to sign with the Steelers effectively ends MacLeod's hopes of appearing at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand later this year.

"[Scotland coach Andy Robinson] knows the massive pride I take in representing my country, but I've explained to him that I want to focus my energies on making a success of the move to the Steelers and he understands my position," MacLeod told BBC.com

With the 2011-12 Top League season not scheduled to start until after the World Cup, Kobe had made no requests to MacLeod that he quit the international game.

But the 32-year-old, who has won 24 caps for Scotland, insisted he would arrive in time for preseason training to ensure he is fully acclimated by the time the season starts.

MacLeod said he had kept in touch with the Kobe management team following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

"After the recent tragic events in Japan, I've been in regular contact with the Steelers, because clearly I would never do anything to expose my family to risk," he said. "I have a huge amount of sympathy for those who've suffered terrible losses, but I've been given the appropriate reassurances and as a family we're entirely comfortable about going out there."

MacLeod, who previously played for Border Reivers and the Scarlets, admitted in an interview in The Scotsman that his young family was the main reason for him heading here.

"Japan had been in the back of my mind for a while," he told the paper. "It goes back to the Scarlets, where me and my wife Adele were friendly with Filo Tiatia's family and Simon Maling's, and they played in Japan and raved about it.

"They said it was a wonderful, unique experience for the family, a great educational thing that broadened the mind and they said if you ever get the chance you should think about it."

And he warned the other Top League teams that he was not done as a player.

"I know [the Steelers] are a very proud club who want to be the best in Japan and I want to buy into that. I want to do the best I can for Kobe. I'm not going there to pick up a retirement check and take it easy."

MacLeod will be the first born-and-bred Scotsman to play in the Top League (established in 2003), but not the first Scot to play for Kobe or the first Scottish international to play in Japan.

Former Watsonians and Oxford University captain David Henderson was with the club for a couple of seasons in the 1990s alongside Edinburgh-born David Bickle, who later won six caps for Japan.

Three "Kilted Kiwis"--New Zealanders who have been capped for Scotland having either lived there for three years or had a Scottish grandparent--have also played for Japanese clubs.

John Leslie played for Fukuoka Sanix Bombs (now known as Sanix Blues), Brendan Laney was with Yamaha Jubilo, while Matt Mustchin helped NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes win promotion to the Top League last season.

In other rugby news:

--Kintetsu Liners announced they had signed Wellington Lions flyhalf Fa'atonu Fili. The 30-year-old has been capped four times by Samoa.