Mascot news: The Sunwolves have a new, slightly less terrifying mascot

Meet Super Rugby’s newest mascot, Wolvy, who was unveiled by the Sunwolves earlier this week.

Japan’s first and only Super Rugby team, the Sunwolves had a few memorable moments in their inaugural season – Akihito Yamada’s hat-trick in Singapore, their first win against the Jaguares in Tokyo, Hitoshi Ono’s fantastic minimalist goatee. But if there was one truly unforgettable image that encapsulated the 2016 Sunwolves it was this photo of their wild-eyed, deranged mascot.

The unnamed wolf was an unprecedented hit with fans, as popular as it was terrifying. Sadly, it appears to have been cut from the Sunwolves roster for the 2017 Super Rugby season. Its replacement, Wolvy, was unveiled on the team’s website and social media earlier this week.

Unlike the old mascot, who looked like a drug-addled maniac, Wolvy seems kind and approachable, with big friendly eyes and a playful yellow streak on his forehead.

Introducing their new mascot on Facebook on Monday, the Sunwolves wrote (via Google Translate) “From now on, in Super Rugby aim for victory with the team, and aim for mascot No. 1 loved in the mascot world!”

A comprehensive profile of Wolvy on the Sunwolves website lists his birthplace as Aoyama, the Tokyo district where the team’s home ground, Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, is located.

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The anthropomorphic wolf’s physical attributes are translated as cryptic metaphors: “Wolf’s pride cm” tall and “Supporter expectation kg.” Wolvy’s personality is described as “passionate like the sun.”

Some other relevant facts: Wolvy is a first five-eighth (a ‘good play’ is described as “break through the middle as if it seemed to be a pass”) whose hobby is “muscle training” and favourite food “protein.”

There is also some timely advice to his team on the eve of their Round 1 match against the Hurricanes this Saturday, their first time playing a New Zealand opponent: “Do not drop the ball in front!”

As cool and dangerous as the previous mascot may have been, you have to admit: the new one does seem vastly better qualified for the role. As the new Super Rugby season draws ever closer, we must embrace progress and join Wolvy in his rousing catch-cry: “AWOOOO!”