SANZAAR nations would have had to pay $25m to keep Sunwolves afloat in Super Rugby

The staggering cost of keeping the Sunwolves in Super Rugby would have left SANZAAR nations broke.

Keeping the Sunwolves afloat in Super Rugby would have cost the other clubs $25 million. Picture: AP

• Sunwolves’ radical consideration
• Rugby powers join forces in flood fundraising drive

There were 25 million reasons to cut the Sunwolves.

That is the amount, $25 million, the SANZAAR nations would have had to pay to keep the Sunwolves afloat after the Japanese Rugby Football Union told them they could not fund the franchise.

The JRFU is beholden to the billion-dollar companies who sponsor the domestic Top League teams, such as Panasonic, Toyota, Suntory and Honda, and their Super Rugby team became a secondary consideration.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Sunwolves asked SANZAAR to fund their $25 million operational costs, which would have left them all broke.

Keeping the Sunwolves afloat in Super Rugby would have cost the other clubs $25 million. Picture: AP

“The reality is as much as we see Japan being an incredibly important part of the future of rugby, when the JRFU withdrew their underwrite support for the Sunwolves and they couldn't find another to guarantee that underwrite, it left the SANZAAR partners in an exposed position financially,” Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle said.

“We didn't think that was in the best interests of the Super Rugby partnership."

SANZAAR chief executive Andy Marinos said in a statement: “SANZAAR was advised by the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) in early March that they would no longer be in a position to financially underwrite the Sunwolves' future participation post 2020.

“The future of the Sunwolves will now be determined by the JRFU which has determined that Super Rugby no longer remains the best pathway for the development of players for the national team.”

The news comes just six months before Japan hosts the Rugby World Cup.

While Japan will not have a Super side from 2021, they could be involved in regular international competition at the top level.

RA is hopeful that the proposed 12-team World Nations Championships will be approved, delivering the game $9.3 billion in the first 12 years.

Northern clubs are still hesitant on signing off on the proposal because it involves promotion and relegation to given second-tier nations a chance at top flight Test fixtures.

If the Six Nations participants reject the proposal, Castle said SANZAAR could expand The Rugby Championship to include Japan and Pacific Island nations.