Super Rugby News
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@Tim If it's true, it's not really surprising. Even with small improvements in performance since they joined the competition, what have they actually contributed to the development of rugby in Japan? You only have to look at the make-up of their squad - with an incredible number of non-Japanese born players - to know that that contribution can't be very significant. This is not a Japanese SR team, this is a multi-national team of SR rejects.
Going back to a SR 14 opens the door to abolishing the conference system and returning to a shorter regular season (13 matches) than currently (16 matches). Fewer games and less travel; it's good from a player welfare point of view, which should also benefit the quality of the games. The question is, what's the financial impact of such a decision on the competition. I have no idea what Japanese broadcasters/sponsors are currently contributing in that respect.
Maybe they should join the Major League Rugby in North America.
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I don’t know what their deal is worth, but I doubt that the Sunwolves bring any many new rugby viewers - most are already fans of the Japan league, and accordingly already subscribe to the main provider (J-sport), so my guess is that you’re right about the lack of impact on TV rights. With that in mind, moving to a 14 team competition would be ideal.
Even better if they split the Jags and got Argentina, the US, Japan, and other pacific teams in a Super rugby D2 division.
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Springbok hooker Ralepelle fails drugs test - reports
South African rugby has been rocked by reports that Springbok hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle has failed a drugs test.
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"Sprained his ankle. How bad, we will find out tomorrow," Robertson said.
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Controversial ex-Rebels star returns to Super Rugby despite assault charges
Blockbusting Japanese No. 8 Amanaki Mafi, who is still undergoing legal proceedings for his role in an assault case against former Rebels teammate Lopeti Timani in Dunedin last year, is set to return to Super Rugby.
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@Tim Not a huge loss considering the backbone of that squad is made up of Kiwis. Kind of a shame though as they had great support at home matches in Tokyo and have shown they have the ability to compete.
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@Canes4life said in Super Rugby News:
@Tim Not a huge loss considering the backbone of that squad is made up of Kiwis. Kind of a shame though as they had great support at home matches in Tokyo and have shown they have the ability to compete.
I work for a Japanese company and the ones from Tokyo mentioned that while they were reasonably supported the clubs didn't support the team and also outside of the local base of fans there wasn't much support outside the area.
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@Tim I remember reading a similar article last week. Are they using old articles as their source again, or has something actually changed since last week? I don't believe anything, until I see an actual decision from SANZAAR (preferably published on their website).
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@Stargazer Sumo on twitter saying he has confirmation that Sunwolves team has been informed they are gone.
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@KiwiMurph said in Super Rugby News:
@Stargazer Sumo on twitter saying he has confirmation that Sunwolves team has been informed they are gone.
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I feel sorry for the players. They've basically been part of a failed experiment. I hope that the better players (particularly, Little) will be able to score a spot in a NZ SR squad next year by playing well for the SW this year (their Japanese club contracts permitting).
By the way, SANZAAR will come with an official announcement on Friday - not limited to pulling the SW, going by this tweet:
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@Stargazer said in Super Rugby News:
I feel sorry for the players. They've basically been part of a failed experiment. I hope that the better players (particularly, Little) will be able to score a spot in a NZ SR squad next year by playing well for the SW this year (their Japanese club contracts permitting).
By the way, SANZAAR will come with an official announcement on Friday - not limited to pulling the SW, going by this tweet:
The other way you can look at it is those players got Super contracts when otherwise they wouldn't have
