 Johnson did not feature for the first team again until 1990 as he played in New Zealand.His return to the first team was again against Bath; on 15 November 1990, due to an injury to Alex Gissing, Johnson started in the third round of 1990-91 Pilkington Cup and Tigers won, the first cup game that Bath had lost at The Rec since 1982.In 1990, Johnson moved to New Zealand to play for King Country and was selected to play for the Under 21 All Blacks.