Sunwolves call on fans for rescue act

With their very Super Rugby existence hanging in the balance, the Sunwolves have called upon their fans to send a message to governing body Sanzaar, which is likely to discuss whether to drop the Tokyo-based team from the competition.

Sanzaar, the organisers of the elite competition, is set to discuss the future of Super Rugby at World Rugby meetings in Dublin this week, amid reports that the Sunwolves, who were added to the competition in 2016, could be culled.

The club have called on fans to write their messages of support on a giant Sunwolves jersey during Saturday’s home game against the Queensland Reds.

“We wish all of you to join our tough and unforeseeable journey with the team and players who make the future of Japan Rugby,” the Sunwolves wrote in a statement on their website this week.

The team also stressed that victories on the field will “show the meaning of Sunwolves in the Super Rugby”.

The Sunwolves have impressed so far this season despite only one win from their opening four games.

As well as their victory over the twice former champions Waikato Chiefs in week three, their first away win in Super Rugby, they lost to the New South Wales Waratahs by just a point and could have beaten the Auckland Blues last week were it not for poor discipline.

A win over the Reds, who have failed to win this season, on Saturday would go a long way in proving the Sunwolves deserve their place.

With Japan hosting the Rugby World Cup later in 2019, a move heralded by World Rugby as an indicator of the growth of the game, expelling the Sunwolves from Super Rugby would appear contradictory.

“The Sunwolves have really helped to develop rugby fans in Japan, in terms of cheering for a team they actually feel a part of,” said Kyodo News’ rugby journalist Rich Freeman on Thursday.

“If you are going to have a huge increase in the number of fans because of the World Cup, what is going to happen when there is no Sunwolves?

“Where are they going to go?”

Since the Sunwolves entered Super Rugby, Japan have recorded comfortable victories over Italy and Tonga, as well as drawing with France in Paris.

“You need regular competition to perform at the highest level,” said Freeman. –

The Tokyo based team have helped to develop rugby for fans in Japan