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South Africa main perpetrator in axing financially unsustainable Sunwolves - report

20 Mar 2019

(Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images)

South Africa are believed to be the main country in the SANZAAR association pushing for the removal of the Japanese based Sunwolves, reports The Daily Telegraph.

It is expected that SANZAAR will announce on Friday that the Sunwolves will be removed from Super Rugby only three years after their inclusion. As part of more revamping, Super Rugby will abolish the conference system and return to a round-robin format where everyone plays each other once.

The pressure from the South African union was ultimately too much, as they reportedly threatened financial penalties to Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby. The South African teams have been vocal about their displeasure in travelling to Singapore and Japan to play the Sunwolves in the past.

All of the teams have been financially supporting the Sunwolves to prop up the team in the hope that the franchise would lure investment from the Asian market. The end goal was to obtain funding from Japanese companies to become independently sustainable but that has not happened after three seasons.

Australia and New Zealand were keen to persist with the team as part of long-term growth into Asia for the Super Rugby competition, but the South Africans were opposed.

Concerns abate over what kind of team the Sunwolves will field in 2020, the last season under the current broadcast deal.

With the Japanese Top League running two editions in the calendar year, the 2019/20 season will overlap with Super Rugby in 2020 meaning many top Japanese players will be unavailable. The Sunwolves will have to field its players from available ex-pat rejects from other countries.

This could lead to a disastrous final season for the Sunwolves who have finally found some notion of competitiveness in 2019. The axing of the Japan franchise on the eve of the Rugby World Cup in Japan is also a bad look for SANZAAR.

The rapid expansion of the Super Rugby competition has almost completely come undone, with the competition set to field 14-teams again. This will mean less games for players but also potentially less broadcast revenue for unions.

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Comments on RugbyPass

JW 16 minutes ago

Lions tour Aussie takes: The Suaalii decision and the Finn Russell factor

Good reads again John. I feel some moments at still within the team to improve, and hopefully some individuals to shine through. After Super Rugby where we were shown you can’t drop your guard at kick off several times in this series have the Lions caught their opposition out with quick throws and restarts, letting the ball go out in this game was a shocker (though the kick was honesty good enough to find the touch had they been ready). Tate tried to strip the try scored just before the half, where he could easily have just dove over the line with him and that pretty much would have been them going into the half with a 10 point lead or so. And in the last play they just didn’t work hard enough, especially one player, I forget who, when back into the ruck area given the Lions too much space wide.

I feel they also didn’t seem to show the same killer instinct once they were in front, playing it safe on a couple of breaks/momentum carries.

I also don’t really understand why Donaldson on the bench. I would much rather have someone you want on the pitch like Pietsch available in a 6/2 split with Gordon or Wright more than able to cover 10 imo. Tate was wonderful on the wing though. And of course lots more positives also present.

I really enjoyed how they were running onto the ball in close in around the ruck. Wilson was playing a different role I thought, he was more the one out man design for quick ball and he presented it as good as you can get all night. That said, he’s not first choice 8 is he, who is that again? Is Wright still injured? I worry that Joe is keeping him their and its dictating too much of the plan just because he has been given the captaincy role.

Will be interesting to see who he thinks might be work a shot in the first team this week, plenty of options. I watched the first quarter of last weeks midweek game and Tupou certainly wouldn’t be one on that list, might be worth a punt though. Think they have to try and work some plays for Bell too, hes got too much class just to be down on form, give him something to work with and I’m sure he’d be a standout as well.

Also seen enough to know Hunter isn’t suddenly going to turn into a class center, I would definitely stick with Joseph but maybe theres a window to put him onto the wing, despite what I said above, now? I think you also do him a disservice in his defending (like many are), he made the player go outside him. It’s the hardest backline spot, I’d be inclined to use him like a league back row and carry it from 12 more often, if that suits Len better.

3 Go to comments

fP 23 minutes ago

The feat Owen Farrell achieved with Lions series that no man has in pro era

FAZ, has been a manufactured hero. He was a low contribution bench youngster, and was a bit part role player in this test.

Morne Steyn was a full game time 10 in both his career winning Lions tests, kicking the winning kick in 2009 and 2021.

Far more humble man, who was given a high tackle pass for 50% of his career.

13 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 34 minutes ago

Hugo Keenan: From high school 'D' team to British and Irish Lions immortality

Marginal call at most and for the attempted Oscar theatrics alone, nothing merited. For that to be given then WR would need to come out and say that when a players gets in that low a position then no clear out should be attempted. They haven’t said that and will not say that.

Your ‘unedited comments’ also confirm that apparently Furlong is past it, Keenan is broken, Aussie would fire ahead in the first Test and Aussie would prevail 2-1. ALL wrong, so that makes zip from, well, everything! Not a successful tour for icky lad eh…

16 Go to comments

JW 46 minutes ago

Eight All Blacks released to play opening round of NPC

Lol that when from pumped to flat too quick to just be a leak Yeow.

8 Go to comments

JW 47 minutes ago

Eight All Blacks released to play opening round of NPC

Worse, Billy wont even play these next tests, so it’ll be 7 or 8 weeks!

8 Go to comments

JW 49 minutes ago

Eight All Blacks released to play opening round of NPC

Why are they blowing all the good derbies in week one? What a waste.

Like what they have tried with SR the last few years and I’m probably forgetting prev NPC seasons as well.

Sure, they want to build some hype, but slow and steady wins the race.

8 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 56 minutes ago

Carlo Tizzano jackal lingers over Lions series win

Yep. Tizzano is there first, by a fraction.

He’s going for the ball when two Lions players (Morgan and Genge) go to clear out. Morgan leads first but both go off their feet. Morgan even has his hand on the pitch in making the contact with Tizzano so is not supporting his body weight. They’ve sealed him off and both fall on the ball. To complete the seal, Morgan holds Tizzano’s legs when he is prone on the ground to prevent him returning to play. Played him off the ball.

The TMO review even establishes that there is head contact with no clear wrap which is a penalty. Mitigation is only applied to see if it is or isn’t a card and what colour it might be, but head contact is a penalty. In any phase of play.

Itoje’s reaction and dealings with Harry Wilson are arrogant (“Ah, just go way!”) as he attempts to influence the ref. He knows what Morgan did - IRE v ENG in this years 6N involved Beirne holding Itoje’s leg from the base of the scrum which took him out of the defensive line and allowed Kelleher to score. The refs got it right that day and overruled the score.

63 Go to comments

Jfp123 56 minutes ago

Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

It’s only the summer tour they use for development. They beat the ABs last autumn then won the 6 Nations. They competed hard in the last WC too. You may not miss them, but some of the rest of us certainly would!

233 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 1 hour ago

Carlo Tizzano jackal lingers over Lions series win

Contact has been sealed off just as he was sealed off by Lions #20 & #17 when they both go off their feet to ‘tackle/cleanout’ that ruck…

63 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 1 hour ago

Carlo Tizzano jackal lingers over Lions series win

The point is that there is not always correlation between an offence and a card or even a penalty call. Across recent decades of the sport.

Such obvious things should not be missed nowadays at this level with the technology available.

I agree by the way on Sheehan’s try. He dives to score but only after jumping to avoid the tackle of 3 players. He jumps before he dives/scores so it shouldn’t have stood.

He also tapped the ball beyond the 5 metre line.

63 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 1 hour ago

Wallabies duo rally around underfire Carlo Tizzano

Yep. A seat sniffer.

22 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 1 hour ago

Hugo Keenan: From high school 'D' team to British and Irish Lions immortality

I made consistent remarks around the perils of Piardi when he was announced for the second test.

My unedited comments history will confirm this.

16 Go to comments

Jfp123 1 hour ago

Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

Top14 teams with international players are allowed to spent more of their own money, they don’t received more money. Their salary cap is raised.

233 Go to comments

Tom 1 hour ago

One area of Tom Lynagh's game that left him a 'bit disappointed'

Tell ya what I was disappointed by. His kicks to the corners from penalties in the first test. Had two kicks to touch in the second half from about 20m out, put one around 10m from the goal line and the other about 7m. I'm sure that will improve with confidence!

It's a hugely tough ask for the kid generally, he's done ok and looking better all the time.

1 Go to comments

Tom 1 hour ago

Lions tour Aussie takes: The Suaalii decision and the Finn Russell factor

I'm not sure why the Aussies are set on having him in the centre. Maybe that is a position that would suit him well with his offloading but most league converts that succeed do so on the wing and he has incredible attributes to play there. He would surely find it easier to learn the game on the wing and provide an amazing aerial option. Then as he's more experienced can dripfeed him games at 15 and 13 and see where he ends up. He can still make use of his offloading game on the wing, he doesn't have to stay out there all game and his aerial skills are wasted at the moment.

Finn Russell has been one of the biggest points of difference between the teams though. The gulf in class and experience at 10 is a big deal. Lynagh did ok for a young man and he is looking more confident with every minute.

3 Go to comments

BA 2 hours ago

Many Springboks fans are saying same thing about the Lions

There were a heap of memorable games in there 95-97 ABs were great team I mean some of the players Christian Cullen was about as fun as you could get

132 Go to comments

BA 2 hours ago

Wallabies duo rally around underfire Carlo Tizzano

He just did what everyone does when there is contact near the head …front rowers acting everywhere with shoulder leg “injuries”

22 Go to comments

Chris929 3 hours ago

RugbyPass' Top 50 Women's Players: Coming Soon!

I have read a few womens lists over the years and usually the womens rugby media makes them as inclusive as possible-so instead of being the actual best-they will have as many players from as many countries as possible. There are also certain players the media are obsessed with-illona maher,natasha hunt for example-who will no doubt be high up even though their actual international form in the 15 a side game should not rank them highly. Maher has done nothing to warrant being in the top 50 for 15 a side besides a huge media profile and Hunt has gone missing in all englands big games recently and is one of the weak links in the england side right now.