Chiefs face Japanese test
Super Rugby sides gearing up with matches overseas
Te Awamutu Sports’ Cody Nordstrom (Gallagher Chiefs), as well as former Sports reps Malachi Wrampling-Alec (Chiefs) and Antonio Shalfoon (Crusaders), are preparing with their respective Super Rugby squads to play pre-season matches overseas this weekend.
The Chiefs will play their Cross Border Rugby pre-season in Japan with the first clash on Sunday against the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights — where they will reunite with former teammate Lachlan Boshier.
The games played against Japan Rugby League One teams will be an exciting spectacle for local fans with some familiar faces in Damian McKenzie and Jimmy Tupou who played for Japanese sides in recent years.
“We are really looking forward to these games in Japan in what will be a unique experience for most. It’s a great opportunity to connect with our fans abroad, bond as a squad and test ourselves against some quality opposition,” Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan said.
“In terms of the travelling squad selection, it has been a case of prioritising those that are fully fit to train and play, and the integration of our All Blacks who have only recently returned after an extended break. A number of non-travelling players are tracking well from niggly injuries and are on schedule to return to action in our last pre-season game against the Blues.”
Sunday’s match at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium will kick off at 6.30pm New Zealand time.
Their second match will be against the Kubota Spears Funabashi-Tokyo Bay on February 10 at 6.30pm NZT.
It will be Nordstrom and Wrampling-Alec’s first chances to impress in the Chiefs senior side.
The Chiefs’ pre-season matches will be broadcast on Sky Sport as well as J-Sports and J-Sports On Demand (Japan).
Shalfoon and the Crusaders team face a new and unique challenge — the Northern Tour.
On Sunday they play Munster at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork, Ireland, before heading to England to face the Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate the following Saturday.
It’ll be the first match the team will play anywhere other than Australia and Fiji since Round 14 of the 2019 competition.
“We’re very excited to get over there, the team is buzzing,” new Crusaders head coach Rob Penney said.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to connect before the 2024 season properly starts, and to test ourselves against some mighty opponents.”
Munster are current title holders of the United Rugby Championship, a competition including teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales. They’ve won it four times, their first title coming in 2002-2003.
Bristol Bears compete in the Premiership, the top division in England.
“Travelling together, lining up against some big names in front of some big crowds, it’ll be huge for us in our prep,” Penney said.
Crusaders v Munster will be live on Sky Sport 2, kick off 6am (NZT). The match against Bristol won’t be broadcast on Sky. Streaming options are currently being worked through.