Japan Super Rugby team

[TOCC]

Joseph will still coach the highlanders for 2016


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[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^^ missed that. Gotta stop skim-reading .

Also, on second reading, "Japan have a two-test series against Scotland in June but Joseph will control those during the Super Rugby break". That'll be some juggling act & you'd have to think the Clan may struggle as the 'tahs did when Cheika was multi-tasking.

 

[Omar Comin']

An article on the surging interest for rugby union in Japan.. It's a shame the Sunwolves aren't looking more organised, it's the perfect platform to capitalise and build on.

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11563790

It'll be interesting to see how quickly Japan will be added to the Rugby Championship if they can kick on from their success at the world cup. The commercial benefits for all involved could be quite significant.

 

[TOCC]

Full team announcement and press conference today at 3pm AEDT


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[TOCC]

Mark Hammett officially announced as coach

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[TOCC]

Playing strip:

The team will wear a red/orange primary strip that represents the rising sun while the grey alternate signifies the speed and fighting spirit of the wolf

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[TOCC]

Playing roster:

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[TOCC]

Squad includes 10 cherry blossoms from the RWC, as well as test players Leonardo(Argentina) and Durutalo(USA).

Those with super rugby experience: Ed Quirk(Reds), Liaki Moli(Blues), Shota Horie(Rebels), Keita Ingaki(Rebels) and Rian Vijoen(Cheetahs)

 

[Highlander35]

Not bad.

Probably not as good as we were hoping when they got first announced, but nonetheless, shouldn't shame themselves.

 

[Scooter]

I like the home strip. I am also happy to see that two ex-Rebels Shota Horie and Keita Inagaki have been named in the squad.

 

[GoMelbRebels]

Don't forget Shota Horie also has Super Rugby experience with the Rebels.

 

[GoMelbRebels]

Oh and Keita!

 

[TOCC]

Alternate jersey:

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[Omar Comin']

I think it's quite disappointing not to see Kosei Ono in there. He had a great world cup at 10 for Japan and as far as I'm aware he's not playing anywhere else.

 

[born-red]

no Mafi or Matsushima either...they, along with Ono, were the young gun highlighters for Japan.

 

[Highlander35]

Ono is hardly a Spring Chicken, has been at the 07,11, and 15 World Cups, but yes he is a gun.

Think the squad evidently screams politics between the clubs and the JRFU along with the influence of Eddie. A certain number of players are employees for their companies rather than paid players of the clubs, so I think that a few may have made a decision based on those lines (i.e. future income may be in jeopardy),

 

[qwerty51]

Should be worse than the Kings first season.

 

[Omar Comin']

Yeah, I think they're going to get smashed a few times. Hopefully they'll at least be able to pick up a couple of wins at home.

 

[upthereds#!]

Ono is hardly a Spring Chicken, has been at the 07,11, and 15 World Cups, but yes he is a gun.

Think the squad evidently screams politics between the clubs and the JRFU along with the influence of Eddie. A certain number of players are employees for their companies rather than paid players of the clubs, so I think that a few may have made a decision based on those lines (i.e. future income may be in jeopardy),

Not the old lock captain Ono, the young Ono flyhalf schooled in Christchurch. He was a gun.

 

[Omar Comin']

Ono (the flyhalf) is 28. Not a young player but certainly young enough to make the next world cup.