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Wales playmaker Gareth Anscombe signs for Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath
After leaving Ospreys, Gareth Anscombe has officially found a new club. The Wales outside-half has signed a deal with Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath from the 2023/24 season.
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The New Zealand-born playmaker, who has played 39 Test matches for Wales, was officially unveiled as the Japanese clubs’ latest signing in the early hours of Friday morning (BST).
Injuries limited Anscombe’s time on the field to just four matches in the URC this season, but there’s no doubting the talent, skill and experience the playmaker brings to the Tokyo-based club.
“It is a great honour coming to play for a team like Sungoliath,” Anscombe said in a statement.
“I can’t wait to get over to Japan and play in front of the fans and experience the Japanese lifestyle and culture.
“I look forward to joining the team later in the year and getting stuck in with the boys.”
Anscombe was included in Warren Gatland’s 43-man Wales squad for a Rugby World Cup training camp in Turkey.
?SUNGOLIATH NEWS RELEASE?
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— ??????? (@sungoliath) July 21, 2023
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The 32-year-old was included in the team along with Dan Biggar and Sam Costelow who are also options at first-five eighth.
“We’re really pleased with how our two-week training camp has gone in Switzerland. The players worked extremely hard and made some really good progress,” coach Gatland said.
“As well as having the natural benefits from living at high altitude, players experienced temperatures in the mid-to-late thirties during our on-pitch session which will be good preparation for our camp in Turkey.
“The 43 players travelling to Turkey are all available for selection for the first match against England on 5 August. Those not travelling remain in our wider training squad and will join back up with us on our return to Wales.”
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Anscombe joins winger Cheslin Kolbe at the Tokyo-based club, with the World Cup-winning Springbok inking a deal after leaving European powerhouse Toulouse.
Kolbe had been linked with a return to the Stormers in South Africa, but ended up signing a lucrative deal – which was believed to be worth R18 million ($1.5m NZD) a season.
“I’m so excited to confirm I will be joining Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath in the Japan Rugby League One competition after this year’s World Cup,” Kolbe said earlier this year.
“This is going to be a new chapter and challenge in my career, and I’d like to thank everyone who made this move possible.
“Suntory is a team with an impressive history, and I am looking forward to making new memories with the team over the seasons ahead.
“To the fans, I hope to put in some performances that you can all enjoy. See you soon!”
Comments on RugbyPass
Crusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to comments