Son of Wallabies legend set to push for Super Rugby debut after being signed by Sunwolves
The Sunwolves have once again dipped into the offshore player market for their final season in Super Rugby, but the Japanese club's newest recruit comes from esteemed rugby heritage.
Australian midfielder Alex Horan, son of two-time World Cup-winning Wallabies midfielder Tim Horan, was announced as one of four new additions to the Sunwolves' training squad on Sunday night, just four weeks' out from the club's season-opener against the Melbourne Rebels on February 1.
The acquisition of Horan comes as a left-field selection given the youngster has yet to play at Super Rugby level, although he has featured in the National Rugby Championship for the Canberra Vikings and Brisbane City.
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The 22-year-old, who is capable of playing at fullback and first-five, has also represented the Queensland Reds at U20 level, and becomes the seventh Australian to sign with the Japanese franchise ahead of the 2020 campaign, following in the footsteps of fellow countrymen Jake Schatz, James Dargaville, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Ben Hyne, Michael Stolberg and Corey Thomas.
Horan joins South African loose forward Justin Downey and Japanese front rowers Kaku Bunkei and Mamoru Harada in signing with the Sunwolves in a training capacity, while props Chris Eves and Hencus van Wyk signed full contracts with the side.
The influx of foreign talent means that just six of the Sunwolves' 29-man squad are Japanese, with the bulk of the team being made up of players hailing from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
Former England and British and Irish Lions midfielder Ben Te'o has also been signed for the forthcoming season, alongside Georgian hooker Jaba Bregvadze, Samoan prop Jarrad Adams, Tongan loose forward Onehunga Havili and Fijian winger Burua Inoke.
After coming into camp in Tokyo on Monday, the Sunwolves will have just one pre-season fixture against a Barbarians side on January 25 before they host the Rebels in Fukuoka a week later.
It was announced earlier this year that the Sunwolves would be culled from the competition from 2021 as Super Rugby reverts back from a conference-based regular season to round-robin system with just 14 teams.
The Japan Rugby Football Union were unable to “financially underwrite” the team after 2020, Super Rugby’s governing body SANZAAR said in March.
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Hi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
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