Sunwolves Participation in Super Rugby after 2021.
TEAM3/22(Fri) 14:00
We wish to inform all our stakeholders, partners, sponsors and most importantly our fans on the future of the Hito-Communications Sunwolves and their participation in Super Rugby.
We have been advised by SANZAAR, the competition owners and organisers today that the Sunwolves will no longer participate in Super Rugby from 2021.
SANZAAR has announced that following a substantial review of Super Rugby over the last 18 months via a strategic planning process the immediate future of Super Rugby rests with a 14-team, round robin competition format.
The revised format will come into operation and start in 2021. The Sunwolves from Japan will therefore be removed out of the existing 15-team Super Rugby competition at the end of the 2020 season.
Japan SR Association CEO Mr. Yuji Watase said “On behalf of the whole Sunwolves family we are obviously very disappointed by this decision. The Sunwolves have been involved in Super Rugby since 2016 and remain a very important piece in the high-performance landscape for rugby in Japan”.
“We wish to thank all our loyal supporters and fans who are the best supporters in Super Rugby for all their continued support. We further ask they stick with us till the end of 2020 to ensure Japan Rugby is at the forefront of the international game both on and off the field of play”, he continued.
The Japan SR Association wishes to thank the JRFU and SANZAAR for their ongoing support, counsel and advice during this process.
The Sunwolves team, players, staff and management will continue to focus on this season and every match striving to grow our game and the brand of the Sunwolves.
We have been advised by SANZAAR, the competition owners and organisers today that the Sunwolves will no longer participate in Super Rugby from 2021.
SANZAAR has announced that following a substantial review of Super Rugby over the last 18 months via a strategic planning process the immediate future of Super Rugby rests with a 14-team, round robin competition format.
The revised format will come into operation and start in 2021. The Sunwolves from Japan will therefore be removed out of the existing 15-team Super Rugby competition at the end of the 2020 season.
Japan SR Association CEO Mr. Yuji Watase said “On behalf of the whole Sunwolves family we are obviously very disappointed by this decision. The Sunwolves have been involved in Super Rugby since 2016 and remain a very important piece in the high-performance landscape for rugby in Japan”.
“We wish to thank all our loyal supporters and fans who are the best supporters in Super Rugby for all their continued support. We further ask they stick with us till the end of 2020 to ensure Japan Rugby is at the forefront of the international game both on and off the field of play”, he continued.
The Japan SR Association wishes to thank the JRFU and SANZAAR for their ongoing support, counsel and advice during this process.
The Sunwolves team, players, staff and management will continue to focus on this season and every match striving to grow our game and the brand of the Sunwolves.