Damian McKenzie keen on cross-border competition between Super Rugby and Japan
All Blacks and Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath star Damian McKenzie is eager for a cross-border competition between Super Rugby Pacific franchises and Japan Rugby League One clubs.
McKenzie is currently playing for Suntory one a season-long deal after having joined the Tokyo-based side following the expiration of his last contract with New Zealand Rugby [NZR] at the end of last year.
The 26-year-old is highly likely to return to New Zealand following the League One campaign, and he made it clear on a conference call from Japan earlier this week that if he is to return home, he would undoubtedly link back up with the Chiefs.
Closing in on his 100th Super Rugby match for the Hamilton-based franchise, McKenzie is also League One’s leading point-scorer this season, helping guide Suntory to the summit of the competition standings.
As such, the 40-test All Black is well-placed to comment on Super Rugby Pacific and League One, and how they could cross paths in future.
After having experienced both competitions and witnessed the ongoing progression of Japanese rugby first-hand, McKenzie told reporters said it would “be a great idea”to pit League One and Super Rugby Pacific teams against each other in some capacity.
“I think it’d be great for the game,” McKenzie said on a conference call alongside Wallabies midfielder and Suntory teammate Samu Kerevi.
“Obviously Japan’s a country that’s developing in their rugby. You just have to see in the last Rugby World Cup the success that they’ve had.
“Even just watching the Japanese rugby over here, it’s getting better every year. The calibre of players is getting a lot better. Like I said, it’s probably a little bit less physical over here, but the speed of the game is really quick.
“I think it’d make for an exciting sort of brand to be able to go out and involve Japan in some way or another. If that happens, it happens, but I think it’d be a great idea.”
McKenzie said Japan’s top clubs would hold their own against franchises from New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands, even if it would take some time for teams to deal with various contrasting styles of play.
“I think they would manage fine. It would just take a while, I guess, to adapt on playing Japanese teams every weekend, being able to adapt to playing a New Zealand or an Aussie team, Moana Pasifika, Fijian Drua,” McKenzie said.
“I guess for a start, it’d take a little bit to adapt, but once you got into the routine of things, I’m sure they would manage this fine.”
The concept of Japanese clubs squaring off against teams from Super Rugby Pacific in an Asia-Pacific-type competition has been touted for some time.
League One managing director Osamu Ota, formerly the Top League chairman, revealed last year that discussions were underway between the Japan Rugby Football Union, NZR and Rugby Australia about bringing such a competition to fruition.
In the wake of Ota’s comments, Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights head coach Robbie Deans threw his support behind the concept, claiming a cross-border competition between the three unions are “inevitable” in the future.
Suntory boss Milton Haig echoed Deans’ sentiments, saying such a league would draw interest from fans and would make sense financially.
The Kiwi-born coach, formerly in charge of Georgia, even suggested that Japan would be open to including South African teams in any future competition involving New Zealand, Australia and Pacific Island sides.
“You would think that, from a marketing point-of-view and a financial game point-of-view, that would be something that would be a natural process,” Haig said earlier this week.
“Obviously the Sunwolves have been in Super Rugby before, but a lot of the teams are owned by multi-national companies.
“I’m not saying that they’ve got big pockets, but certainly it’s an opportunity for the companies to get their brand a little bit further globally, and if that’s on the back of rugby, well then that’s got to be a pretty smart marketing opportunity for them.
“I would think that, from a cross-border situation, both Australia and New Zealand – even South African sides – we’d probably welcome the opportunity to gain some market share in Japan and vice versa.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Currently, a prop that has been substituted can go back on field if his original replacement gets injured. Can a red carded prop go back if his replacement gets injured, or will it be uncontested scrums?
8 Go to commentsWhat about a free kick from a scrum? Can you call another scrum? Or are they just giving straight penalties now?
27 Go to commentsLoved that comment by Andrew that the ‘water boys’ rule was changed in 2020 just to stymie the Boks!
27 Go to commentsOne of the best the Boks have ever produced. PSDT has an engine that goes non-stop for the full 80 min.
5 Go to commentsThe real deal.
5 Go to commentsIt’s been said that Nienaber will head back to SA too before next World Cup , hoarding all the amazing IP gained in Irish system … get a grip … Irish system needs to Milk the likes of Barrett . First time a leading all Black in his prime has gone to Ireland for any period of time . Enjoy it .
20 Go to comments20 min RC is the only good solution of a bunch of bad solutions. Ridiculous that it has taken this long and caused so many uneven contests. In general these are all very good changes - one is surprised that NH brokers were able to see sense at long last.
8 Go to comments“While a red card will mean a temporary team disadvantage, the replacement system will focus punishment on the offending player instead of disrupting the game itself.” This might work for amateur rugby, where players just want to be on the pitch for as long as possible, but hopefully we’ve got to a point where top level professionals care about the success of their team much more than about whether they personally are on the pitch or not.
8 Go to commentsa lot of focus on the targeting of south africa, but aspects of this are positive. The croc roll; the offside law; and time limits on set pieces are all good. calling for a mark off kick offs is baffling, but I guess we’ll see how it plays out in practice
27 Go to commentsSpeeding the game up is great, but I think we will find that the increase in viewership this year mostly comes down to the competition being more competitive…the fall of the Crusaders has been a boon for viewership. This should be at the heart of super rugby changes - how to make the comp more even
23 Go to commentsThe fact that the press were largely to blame for his taking a break is nothing short of disgusting. He’s made a few mistakes but difficult to name a player of any substance who gives it a full go hasn’t also made mistakes? On behalf of a large number of Bokke fans, bring back Farrell !!!!!
1 Go to commentsPSTD is a fantastic flanker. He could benefit from a bit of self-promotion / flair and he is not quite the danger man that Ardie is. That said, he is my 1st pick to build a backrow around. His speed and hustle made up for Duane who got quite a bit slower at the 8.
5 Go to commentssurprised, disco lights haven't been banned by world rugby board
27 Go to commentsToo many changes. Too often. I’m tired of this WR administration. How do we vote these fockers out? Bill needs to go.
27 Go to commentsDu Toit, 2 time W.Cup winner yet rarely mentioned a “Great “…if one looks back on his stellar carrier perhaps someone will one day elevate him to “Richie” status…a quiet, polite yet devastating loose forward that knew action speaks louder than words..
5 Go to commentsI like the offside rule, but this won't affect my team because all their kicks gets chased and that putts everyone on side. Lekker manne!
27 Go to comments20 minute Red Card is untenable. If you don’t punish the whole team, coaches won’t be sufficently incentivised to pick players with, or coach better tackle technique.
8 Go to commentsI can only think of One time ever a team has opted for a scrum from a free kick… Why the law change I wonder
27 Go to commentsYeah, its not going to work. But we see you World Rugby.
27 Go to commentsLove the reaction after last 2 W.Cups re rule changes…maybe good for more for more of a “ league” type running game( which I personally don’t like) but seems Rassie is definitely in ther heads…
27 Go to comments