Japan Super Rugby team

[Omar Comin']

Thanks. So pretty much the same as the Pampas.

Well the Pampas were/are a development side for younger Argentinian players. This Japanese team will hopefully have a core of established Japanese test players as well as foreigners.

The Argentinian Super Rugby team will be made up entirely of Argentinian players and is effectively the Pumas test team (as of next year they will only be selecting domestic based players for the Pumas).

 

[Dewald Nel]

Well the Pampas were/are a development side for younger Argentinian players. This Japanese team will hopefully have a core of established Japanese test players as well as foreigners.

The Argentinian Super Rugby team will be made up entirely of Argentinian players and is effectively the Pumas test team (as of next year they will only be selecting domestic based players for the Pumas).

Damn. That will be one tough nut to crack.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Geographically makes sense.still would like to see Fiji join Australian conference

Yes only way could see Pi side joining super rugby is bAsing a large number of home games in Australia or new Zealand say and play only a couple at Pi home countries - this subject gets raised every few years but yes probably in too hard basket and would not probably get much support from oz and nz administration

One likes to dream...

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I did not know they were only going to pick domestic plAyers for National Argentina team next year. Now I see why so many national team members signed up for super rugby side. As was surprised given can never compete on $'s with French and less extent uk clubs

There super rugby Side next yeAr will be a very tough proposition

 

[mxyzptlk]

New Japanese team will be known as the Sunwolves

They'll play four home matches in Singapore.

Name is from sun as in land of the rising sun and they want to adopt the ethos of wolves, 'pack hunting and protecting each other'.

Feel like only Japan could pull this name and logo off, I now have a second favourite team.

They really need a short anime intro to go with that logo and name, and play that on the big screens before every match.

 

[upthereds#!]

Japan won't get those big names expats mentioned before, like Dupreez etc. It is well known now that Japan Rugby isn't the cashed up corporate monsters that the TOP 14 teams are. They have 10 from the national SQUAD, but won't have some of the best players like Leitch, Mafi and Tui as they have already signed/talked about signing with foriegn clubs. Is Tanaka still at highlanders and Horie at Rebels? There only hope is in the foreign born players that are playing for Japan, eg....Sau and Matsushima would be epic for them.

Earlier they were criticised for signing too many Uni level players, but struggled to get regular players as many Japanese players are life long employees of their companies and the Top 14 doesn't want to share. Even aussie players going over are joining TOP14 because of the higher pay, smaller season, less travel and longer times off, eg Higs, Palu, Kepu and Hegarty.

 

[Highlander35]

The Top14 is the French league, the Japanese league is just the Top League, and has 16 sides. Horie left his Rebels contract due to a neck injury that ruled him out for the Super Season, the Rebels signed Kieta Inagaki, the loosehead prop, instead for 2015. With Siliva Siliva and Hanson joining the Rebs this year, Shota probably isn't coming back, but Gaki is unconfirmed.

 

[TOCC]

I still think it's in the best interest of the JFRU to have some of their top players playing abroad in Super Rugby.

Something about putting all your eggs in one basket.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mxyzptlk]

I still think it's in the best interest of the JFRU to have some of their top players playing abroad in Super Rugby.

Something about putting all your eggs in one basket.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I love seeing Tanaka at Otago/Highlanders, if only to hear the Kiwi announcer call it when he starts passing to Parker, "TANAKA TA PAHKAH, PAHKAH TA TANAKA."

 

[TOCC]

Fiji coach John McKee and assistant coach Frans Ludeke are expected to move to Japan as the head coach/assistant coach of the Sunwolves and Cherryblossoms.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...-super-rugby-job/story-e6frg6n6-1227558046201

 

[upthereds#!]

The Top14 is the French league, the Japanese league is just the Top League, and has 16 sides. Horie left his Rebels contract due to a neck injury that ruled him out for the Super Season, the Rebels signed Kieta Inagaki, the loosehead prop, instead for 2015. With Siliva Siliva and Hanson joining the Rebs this year, Shota probably isn't coming back, but Gaki is unconfirmed.

Sorry for that mistake, thanks for clearing those up!

 

[upthereds#!]

Hopefully with their success at the world cup, they will be
a) raising some commercial interest to increase their 'buying power'
b) players being motivated to stay with the squad and the new coach
c) continue to build on their fan base - 25mil watched them beat samoa....

 

[Omar Comin']

There's no doubt WR (World Rugby) will see the huge opportunity in Japan given those ratings. Hopefully they really invest significantly there leading up to the next world cup. Speak to the likes of Eddie Jones, Robbie Deans etc work out the things that need to be fixed in their structures and then provide incentives for the JRFU (and other stakeholders) to make improvements.

SANZAR and the individual unions should also be supporting the SunWolves in whatever way they can. Perhaps lending expertise to consult on all aspects of running a Super Rugby team. There's obviously huge potential there - if even 10% of that audience watching the national team against Scotland and Samoa became fans of the SunWolves it would be massive for Super Rugby.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

There's no doubt WR (World Rugby) will see the huge opportunity in Japan given those ratings. Hopefully they really invest significantly there leading up to the next world cup. Speak to the likes of Eddie Jones, Robbie Deans etc work out the things that need to be fixed in their structures and then provide incentives for the JRFU (and other stakeholders) to make improvements.

SANZAR and the individual unions should also be supporting the SunWolves in whatever way they can. Perhaps lending expertise to consult on all aspects of running a Super Rugby team. There's obviously huge potential there - if even 10% of that audience watching the national team against Scotland and Samoa became fans of the SunWolves it would be massive for Super Rugby.

I agree Omar I would be pretty disappointed if SANZAR and individual member nations don't assist Japan in building and developing a successful super rugby structure as in interests of all members for Japan to be successful as just alone think of next Sanzar TV rights if Japan can get even a 1/4 of world cup audience they got against Scotland or Samoa.

Got to make this work - as will be hard one given the politics and structure of Japanese rugby but worth the effort for the reward a successful japanese super rugby franchise will bring

 

[TOCC]

Pulver has suggested a test match against Japan in 2016 is on the cards, potentially just before the Wallabies Spring Tour.

 

[kiap]

Pulver has suggested a test match against Japan in 2016 is on the cards, potentially just before the Wallabies Spring Tour.

Could this have prompted Bill's interest?

A record 25 million Japanese stayed up late to watch their team demolish Samoa in their third game of the Rugby World Cup, in the latest demonstration of the country’s newfound love of the sport.
The Brave Blossoms’ 26-5 victory in Milton Keynes on Saturday means Japan – rank outsiders at the start of the tournament – are still in with a chance of making the quarterfinals for the first time in World Cup history.

 

[RunnerGunner]

Pulver has suggested a test match against Japan in 2016 is on the cards, potentially just before the Wallabies Spring Tour.

Bill Pulver always sees those $ signs

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Bill Pulver always sees those $ signs

One would hope so.......

 

[Rob Ward]

It's a separate franchise operated by the JRFU. It'll be a mix of national team players and imports. Not sure what, if any relationship it will have with the Companies involved in the Top League. Hopefully they're not hostile to it.

And the Singapore Stadium has a roof so should be fine in that sense. The biggest challenge will be attracting crowds.

Stadium also has aircon of a sort. Hopefully we can get 10,000 plus but will need to be promoted well.
Social media and website below for rugby fans in Singapore.
SUNWOLVES HP: http://super-japanrugby.com/
SUNWOLVES Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/superrugby.sunwolves
Email: PR@super-japanrugby.com

 

[Quick Hands]

Could this have prompted Bill's interest?

A record 25 million Japanese stayed up late to watch their team demolish Samoa in their third game of the Rugby World Cup, in the latest demonstration of the country’s newfound love of the sport.
The Brave Blossoms’ 26-5 victory in Milton Keynes on Saturday means Japan – rank outsiders at the start of the tournament – are still in with a chance of making the quarterfinals for the first time in World Cup history.

Pretty much the same time zone as Australia as well, which makes rugby more attractive for our broadcasters too.