Sunwolves set for Super Rugby return, Japan primed for Rugby Championship inclusion - report
The Sunwolves could be set for a shock induction back into Super Rugby on the back of Japan’s success at the World Cup.
The nation’s maiden appearance in the knockout stages of the tournament could also be enough to see the Brave Blossoms earn a place in the Rugby Championship alongside New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina.
According to a report from Newshub, the prospect of admitting both teams into the respective competitions will be discussed at a SANZAAR meeting in Tokyo on Friday.
The revelation comes just days after Japan completed their best-ever finish at a World Cup, bowing out in front of their home fans as beaten quarter-finalists after going down 26-3 at the hands of the Springboks at Tokyo Stadium on Sunday.
Through their scintillating, attacking brand of rugby, which yielded pool play wins against European heavyweights Ireland and Scotland, the Brave Blossoms have captured the imagination of the Japanese public.
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An estimated 54.8 million people tuning in to watch their side defeat the Scots to secure their place in the play-offs a week-and-a-half ago – a larger television audience than that of the 2002 FIFA World Cup final, which was held in Yokohama.
Led by highly-regarded Kiwi coaching duo Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown, Japan’s on-field success has significantly raised the profile of rugby in the country, which has forced a re-think from SANZAAR of their involvement with the nation’s future in the sport.
The governing body of the southern hemisphere’s premier competitions announced earlier this year it would be omitting the underperforming Sunwolves from Super Rugby following the 2020 season as the competition looked to revert from a 15-team conference system back to a 14-team round-robin format, which was last used nine years ago.
The @wallabies have returned to Australia accepting they just weren't good enough after their humbling @rugbyworldcup quarter-final exit. #RWC2019 https://t.co/HPdcdAtZjF
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 22, 2019
The decision to reduce the number of teams and change the competition format came after a plethora of negative feedback about Super Rugby’s play-off structure, which currently sees the winners of the New Zealand, Australian and South African conferences claim the top three finals spots, followed by five wildcard sides.
That system, though, has led to teams placing ahead of other franchises despite having accumulated more competition points, as has happened in the five most recent seasons, bringing into question the fairness and equitability of the play-off structure.
Despite the exciting, yet largely fruitless, style of rugby the Sunwolves – who have won just eight of their 62 outings since their debut in 2016 – provided the competition with, the Japanese Rugby Football Union failed to negotiate a contract with SANZAAR to play beyond next year.
Their inability to sign an agreement around the Sunwolves’ involvement in the league came down to financial reasons, with reports emerging that the franchise were ordered to pay around US$9 million per season in participation fees, something of which no other club in Super Rugby has to do.
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However, Japan’s unprecedented success at the World Cup could force a tug-of-war between the Six Nations and Rugby Championship for the Brave Blossoms’ services, as suggested by World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper.
“Certainly if I was in their shoes I’d be very keen to have Japan in my competition sooner rather than later,” Gosper told Newshub.
With a growing audience of rugby fans among Japan’s population of 128 million, combined with the prosperity of the Japanese economy, the world’s sixth-ranked nation has become hot property within the global game.
The riches on offer in Europe with the Six Nations would give Japan plenty of incentive to stay in the northern hemisphere, but the Sunwolves’ participation in Super Rugby could hold the key for SANZAAR as they look to lure Japan south.
Steve Hansen has given his biggest hint yet on who he thinks should take over his top job when he steps down after the Rugby World Cup. #RWC2019 https://t.co/40U53HotM7
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 21, 2019
“That’s entirely their call,” Gosper said of where Japan could end up following this World Cup.
“We proposed a nations championship that had Japan very much playing at the top table and maybe they’ll see it that way for their own particular championship.”
Time will tell where the Brave Blossoms and Sunwolves will end up at club and international level, but regardless of where their futures lie, moves have to be made swiftly in order to ensure Japan can continue their rapid ascendency within the rugby world.
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Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
40 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
40 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
40 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
40 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
40 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
40 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
40 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments