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Japan Rugby League One

Free agent Nicolas Sanchez to replace injured Wales star in Japan

Nicolas Sanchez of Argentina looks on during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Bronze Final match between Argentina and England at Stade de France on October 27, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)

Argentine rugby star Nicolas Sanchez has come in from the cold after spending weeks on the sidelines as a free agent following the Rugby World Cup.

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The 35-year-old fly-half has signed with Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath in Japan, his first club contract since leaving Brive at the end of last season.

The standoff will fill the void left by injured Welsh fly-half Gareth Anscombe at the big-spending Japanese side. The injury-plagued Anscombe has suffered yet another injury just weeks into his career at Suntory, with the former Ospreys set for another lengthy spell on the sideline.

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    Sanchez, who featured against Wales for the Barbarians in November, was previously rumoured to be moving to the United States. However, he has chosen the Japanese Top League for his next professional chapter.

    Sanchez will play alongside recent star recruits Sam Cane and Cheslin Kolbe, adding to the club’s formidable lineup. While the details of his contract, including its duration, remain undisclosed, Sanchez’s presence in Japan is a testament to his enduring talent, as well as the growing allure of Japanese rugby.

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    Ronald Fraser 2 hours ago
    Duhan van der Merwe's Lions tour thrown into doubt

    I hope I'm not too late to share this. I won $2 million in the WESTERN MAX LOTTERY with the help of an online spell caster named Meduza. I reached out to him on WhatsApp at this number +1 (807) 907-2687, saying, "I need a lottery spell," after reading positive comments about his spellcasting online. Meduza explained the process to me, and I agreed to his terms, which were reasonable. It took him 48 hours to prepare the spell, and then he sent me the lucky numbers for the WESTERN MAX LOTTERY, which I followed carefully. To my amazement, on March 4th, 2025, I checked and discovered that I had won $2 million at the store where I purchased my ticket. My heart is full of JOY and I want to take this opportunity to thank Meduza for his assistance. Meduza also offers spells for other issues like rekindling relationships, healing illnesses, spells to become successful in life and gaining promotions at work, among other things. You can also contact him by email at: lordmeduzatemple@hotmail.com

    2 Go to comments
    J
    JD 2 hours ago
    'Caelan Doris... I’m not sure he gets in the Lions back row at the moment'

    Doris didn’t play that well though, while other number 8’s really shone. Hell Conan made more impact during his minutes than Doris. It doesn’t matter how well Ireland did. Example - Sale lost to Toulouse last weekend, but Ben Curry was phenomenal despite losing.


    Don’t judge a player on 5 games is my opinion, class is permanent. Doris does need some good games between now and the end of the season though.

    11 Go to comments
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    Katy Martin 2 hours ago
    Duhan van der Merwe's Lions tour thrown into doubt

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    JD 2 hours ago
    Despite the Croke Park horror show, Marcus Smith shouldn't be discounted from Lions conversation

    Taking 2 fly halfs and 2 fullbacks plus Marcus Smith leaves an extra tour spot. Quids in it will be Elliott Daly given his versatility. Personally I’m not a huge fan of his, but for a tour like this he will be ideal given the sheer number of matches. A further centre cum flyhalf (Jordan) isn’t needed as Kinghorn can play 10 as well. Part of me really wants Manu on that plane.

    12 Go to comments
    J
    JD 2 hours ago
    'Caelan Doris... I’m not sure he gets in the Lions back row at the moment'

    Farrell comes left field and names Jac Morgan as tour captain…


    One problem for Doris currently is the form of Jack Conan. Conan is basically playing anywhere just to get on the pitch and is starting tonight at 8 vs Glasgow.


    It’s an interesting thing to consider. Neither Doris nor Itoje are hugely experienced captains, but the argument could be made that Maro has more experience at the top given his amount of international caps and previous Lions involvement.


    Both will be leaders in the pack regardless. Whoever is captain has to be a nailed on starter though. It’s not that outlandish to namecheck the current England captain as a potential tour captain really given Farrell only has a few options in front of him.

    11 Go to comments
    J
    JD 3 hours ago
    'Caelan Doris... I’m not sure he gets in the Lions back row at the moment'

    He’ll be starting second row anyway so surely it’s irrelevant to Oz whether he’s captain or not then?

    11 Go to comments
    N
    NB 3 hours ago
    Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

    Every league bar hte Top 14 is posting huge numbers of points 👍

    50 Go to comments
    N
    NB 3 hours ago
    Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

    He ruled it out previously.

    50 Go to comments
    N
    NB 3 hours ago
    Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

    For sure, but it’s not a reason to trade away a series win in NZ - at least not unless you’re inhabiting an alternate universe!


    NZ prob learned more because Schmidt came in, and he was far more familiar with developments in Ireland than any of the local coaches.

    50 Go to comments
    N
    NB 3 hours ago
    Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

    They are not opposed points of view FL.


    England up to Ireland 2024 tended to kick back rather than return. Their KR improvement coincided with both trhe intro of Furbank at 15, and Felix Jones running a more aggressive form of D.


    France are good kick returners, but most of the work on that is done by the coaches at Toulouse and UBB, who have adopted a similar style.

    50 Go to comments
    I
    IkeaBoy 3 hours ago
    'Caelan Doris... I’m not sure he gets in the Lions back row at the moment'

    Its the Oz media. They want him as captain with his penalty count and discipline woes. He’d help them no end.

    11 Go to comments
    D
    DP 3 hours ago
    'Caelan Doris... I’m not sure he gets in the Lions back row at the moment'

    Tinsel has zero rugby IQ but a lot of influential rugby mates. The bloke spouts so much nonsense it’s hilarious to hear, he speaks with such conviction… blinkered and rose tinted conviction, much like most of the English players from his era.

    11 Go to comments
    f
    fl 3 hours ago
    Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

    could O’Gara take the top job at Wales now though?

    50 Go to comments
    T
    Tulijuanacutler 3 hours ago
    Geoff Parling: An Englishman roasting the Lions?

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    44 Go to comments
    f
    fl 3 hours ago
    Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

    I agree - but I do also think NZ learned from that defeat and that was one of the main reasons they won in the QF.

    50 Go to comments
    f
    fl 3 hours ago
    Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

    “Both tend to be generated by agressive D, which either wins the ball directly, or forces a kick on the D’s terms.”

    this is partly true, but its also down to the kicks themselves.


    “England post-2023 have been pretty good on KR’s esp when they started to pick either Marcus or Furbank at FB.”

    completely true, but not at all the point I was making. England in 2023 were brilliant at generating turnovers, but they were not brilliant at converting them into chances - so very clearly scoring loads of tries off turnovers isn’t purely (or perhaps even primarily) a product of aggressive defence. The point about Furbank and Smith actually kinda proves my point - neither player contributes much to England’s defensive linespeed, and yet they do contribute to tries being scored off turnover!

    50 Go to comments
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