The devastating blow for Asian rugby that will cause 'quite a lot of damage'

SANZAAR's decision to axe the Sunwolves from Super Rugby six months before the kick-off of the Japan-hosted World Cup has sparked concerns about the future growth of rugby within Asia.

An announcement was made last week that the Tokyo-based Sunwolves would no longer participate in the southern hemisphere's premier club competition from 2021 onwards after a tumultuous opening three seasons of their existence.

The decision comes as an untimely one, as it reflects regression in Asian rugby at a time when Japan prepares to become the first country in the continent to host the sport's biggest event.

“It is clear that this is going to cause quite a lot of damage,” Sunwolves CEO Yuji Watase told AFP following his side's 37-24 defeat against the Lions last weekend.

“It’s obvious we had a responsibility to expand rugby in Asia. We have tried to do that and to an extent I believe we achieved that aim — but in pure economic terms, the reality is not that simple.”

With 4.5 million ticket applications, 70 percent of those coming from Japan, it's difficult to argue Gilpin's notion.

“There are a couple of hundred thousand kids playing rugby now in Japan that weren’t there a year ago, let alone five years ago. We are somewhere new, the opportunity is to leave a bigger legacy in this World Cup than we’ve ever done before.”

Raelene Castle on Sunwolves axing: