Sunwolves could be cut from Super Rugby as early as next year
After claiming one of the best wins in their history by defeating the Chiefs in New Zealand last weekend, the future looks all but over for Japan’s Super Rugby franchise.
Sayonara Sunwolves.
After claiming one of the best wins in their history by defeating the Chiefs in New Zealand last weekend, the future looks all but over for Japan’s Super Rugby franchise.
SANZAAR officials are gathering to discuss the future of Super Rugby this weekend and Rugby Confidential has learned that the key proposal being put forward is to cut the Sunwolves as early as next year if broadcasters sign off.
If not, they’ll stay with the 15-team format until the end of the broadcast agreement to the end of 2020, and then look to revert to Super 14 from 2021.
South Africa wants Japan out, and there are rumours they even told other partners they’d get 25 per cent of their broadcast revenue if the Sunwolves remain in the competition.
Japanese officials are aware of the plot to remove their side, and have begun preliminary discussions about forming a “Super Rugby Asia” concept that would involve Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest and the Western Force.
The Sunwolves entered Super Rugby in 2016 and while it was hoped they’d open the floodgates to Japanese broadcast revenue, there is little money flowing back to SANZAAR from Tokyo.
The team itself plays an exciting brand of rugby and have become many fans’ second favourite team, while their recent performances suggest they’re on the rise.
Australia and New Zealand are supportive of the Sunwolves, however South Africa – who provide the bulk of broadcast revenue – are sick of their sides travelling to Tokyo and Singapore for games.
While South African teams have continually been linked to European moves after the defections of the Cheetahs and Southern Kings, SARU has guaranteed they’ll keep their four teams in the next version of Super Rugby.
Japan has a big focus on their domestic Top League and Sunwolves players are already starting to negotiate deals with clubs for next season.
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LUKHAN Salakaia-Loto will rejoin the Wallabies for the first time since the ugly brawl with a spectator at the Gold Coast last September when he attends this weekend’s training camp.
Previously known as Lukhan Tui, Salakaia-Loto legally changed his name as on ode to his step-father, who had passed away in the week of that infamous incident.
The backrower got involved in a scuffle in the Gold Coast stands with the punter after the so-called fan became aggressive towards players and their family members.
While Wallabies coach Michael Cheika wanted Salakaia-Loto to go on the spring tour late last year, he chose to remain home and focus on his family.
Salakaia-Loto has dropped from 123kg down to 116kg, showing with Queensland so far this year he is capable of reclaiming his starting No.6 Wallabies jersey, and will attend the 40-player camp in Sydney this weekend, rejoining many national teammates he has not seen in some time.
Quade Cooper, who attended the Wallabies camp in January, will also attend this weekend’s gathering as he seeks a stunning return to the Australian team for the World Cup.
Strong performing Melbourne Rebels hooker Anaru Rangi has been snubbed from the camp, with Cheika preferring those he has already blooded in the past two years; Folau Fainga’a, Jordan Uelese, Brandon Paenga-Amosa and suspended Waratah Tolu Latu.
Uncapped backrowers Isi Naisarani and Rob Valetini will also be in the training camp.
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THE World League Of Nations could be finalised in two months.
World Rugby officials will sit down in Dublin for a three-day meeting next week, and the revolutionary global shake-up will be the central theme next Thursday, the final day of the gathering.
The controversial promotion-relegation system is still being opposed by some northern nations, but the general feeling is that the concept is worthless if it is fenced off to second-tier nations and agreement will be reached to go ahead.
Those issues will be debated next week, with all unions then to go away and come back with their positions in May, at which time it’s hoped they will be able to announce the greatest change to Test rugby since the game went professional in 1996.
There would be a northern conference of six teams, and the “rest of the world” southern conference of six teams. They’d play each other once, with the top two from each playing semi-finals, and those winners playing a final.
The last-placed nation in each conference would face off against the winners of the respective second division conferences.
This means Pacific Island nations, the United States, Georgia and Uruguay would all have opportunities to join the World League Of Nations.
The tournament would be played every year except World Cup years.
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WALLABY winger Sefanaia Naivalu has signed a deal with French club Stade Francais, and will depart Australia after the World Cup.
Naivalu is expected to be followed by Marika Koroibete, who has been strongly linked to a move to France.
Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu is being chased by English clubs and is tipped to also head overseas after the World Cup.
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WARATAHS flanker Michael Wells will be bringing some new-found wrestling techniques back to the team next week after a training session in the UFC’s Las Vegas gym.
Wells returns to his Super Rugby squad on Wednesday after a six-month stint with the national sevens program – he’s playing for Australia in the Canada Sevens in Vancouver this weekend.
The backrower and the rest of the Aussie sevens squad had a training session at the famed mixed martial arts gym in the middle of Nevada in preparation for the Vegas tournament where they finished seventh.
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THOSE who attended the Waratahs vs Reds match at the SCG last year will suspect Saturday’s game is being played sideways.
Officials have switched the field from north-south to east-west for this weekend’s clash, bringing the action closer to fans in the members’ and ladies’ stands.
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WORLD Cup-winning Wallaby Brendan Nasser is celebrating the inclusion of his son in the Junior Wallabies squad.
Backrower Nasser was part of Australia’s victorious 1991 Cup winning side, and Josh Nasser - a 116 prop - looks to be following in his old man’s footsteps.
The Junior Wallabies, coached by Jason Gilmore, are holding a week-long training camp in Canberra from Sunday to prepare for the Oceania under-20s Championship in April.
They’ll be under the watch of Stephen Larkham, who has moved from Wallabies attack coach into a new role as national high performance coach advisor.
The training squad is: Bo Abra, Oliver Barden, Angus Bell, Darcy Breen, Oliver Callan, Will Chaffey, Liam Cornish, Joe Cotton, Will Deardon, Ethan Dobbins, Ben Donaldson, Max Douglas, Max Dowd, Will Goddard, Esei Ha’angana, Brooklyn Hardaker, Jack Hardy, Will Harris, Will Harrison, Isaac Henry, Trevor Hosea, Kristian Jensen, Nathan Lawson, Noah Lolesio, Lachlan Lonergan, Brody Macaskill, Michael McDonald, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Kye Oates, Lachlan Osborne, Ben Paxton-Hall, Byron Ralston, Triston Reilly, Henry Robertson, Egan Siggs, Seamus Smith, Tristan Stanghon, Pat Tafa, Sione Tui, Liam Usher, Rhys Van Nek, Jack Walsh, Joey Walton, Harry Wilson, Michael Wood, Finn Wright.
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