Sunwolves return part of secret Rugby Australia plan for Super Rugby
Their teams have been the dominant force of Super Rugby for the past five seasons, but Rugby Australia is planning for life without New Zealand in 2021 in a bold plan that will snub rugby’s greatest talents.
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The return of Japan’s Sunwolves is part of a bold plan by Rugby Australia for a Super Rugby tournament in 2021 without New Zealand.
As local and Kiwi officials argue over how many Australian teams should feature in a proposed trans-Tasman tournament, RA has moved to create its own model with at least eight teams.
The Australian Super Rugby proposal would include the existing five teams, plus the Sunwolves, Fijian Drua, and an Argentinian team — all based in Australia due to anticipated ongoing COVID restrictions.
New Zealand Rugby last weekend outlined their plans for Super Rugby, saying Australian teams could “express interest” in a tournament featuring “eight to 10” teams, including the existing five Kiwi sides and potentially a Pasifika team based in south Auckland.
The Kiwis’ originally proposed for Australia to cut back to two teams, while this updated plan could accommodate up to four Australian teams.
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However, RA is adamant they will retain their five teams — NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds, ACT Brumbies, Melbourne Rebels, and Western Force.
If all five won’t be accepted into the Kiwi-planned trans-Tasman tournament, it’s expected RA will go it alone.
Details of the Australian-led competition can now be revealed, and would feature the fully fledged return of two franchises axed from Super Rugby in recent years — the Force and Sunwolves.
The Sunwolves played their last season earlier this year before the coronavirus cancelled the multinational competition in March.
Their fate had already been sealed after Japan Rugby Football Union failed to guarantee the money needed for the Tokyo side to continue, and SANZAAR refused to cover the costs, and it was announced last year that 2020 would be their final season.
However, Australia is keen to maintain ties with Japan and it’s understood the JRFU would now be willing to fund the Sunwolves and accommodate them in Australia, given it is unlikely Japan could host matches early next year.
The Force, who were axed from Super Rugby by RA in 2017, have returned for the abbreviated Super Rugby AU tournament being played now, thanks to funding from billionaire owner Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest.
Australian fans are familiar with Drua, who participated in the now defunct National Rugby Championship — winning the title in 2018.
Drua would be based in Western Sydney, however it’s planned they would play some home games in Fiji.
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And now Argentina and South Africa have officially been cut from any future Super tournament, RA is exploring having one or both nations represented with Australian-based teams.
Some of the Jaguares players have signed with European clubs but many have unsecured futures. RA can capitalise by bringing them into a local comp.
It’s understood they’ll also speak to their South African counterparts about housing an Australian-based team.
South Africa is toying with the idea of staging a beefed up Currie Cup as a replacement, or joining the northern hemisphere Six Nations.
Revelations of this new plan will set up an intriguing series of talks between RA and NZR regarding the future of domestic rugby, one that ultimately may cease 25 years of trans-Tasman alliance.