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Japan’s Super Rugby team, the Sunwolves, have revealed the playing list that will take the field from February 2016 in their inaugural season.
Yoshitaka Tashiro, the representative director of Japan Super Rugby Association (JSRA), announced the Sunwolves’ head coach, players, and revealed the team’s jerseys in Tokyo on Monday.
サンウルブズの一員に選ばれた4選手が真新しいジャージを着用して登壇しました。Players introduction time! #sunwolves #BreakTheLine #SuperRugby pic.twitter.com/bSBXzJEJxU
— Sunwolves SuperRugby (@sunwolves) December 21, 2015
As preparations continue for the team’s Round 1 clash against the Lions at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, on February 27, the JRSA confirmed that Mark Hammett will lead the side in their maiden Super Rugby campaign.
Hammett is no stranger to Super Rugby, having served as an assistant at the Crusaders (2007-10) and head coach at the Hurricanes (2011-14), before taking up the director of rugby role at the Cardiff Blues (2014-15).
He also has 81 caps to his name at the Crusaders, where he played from 1996-2003, and 29 for the All Blacks throughout a Test career spanning four years.
The Sunwolves reveal their coach, players and jersey in Tokyo. (Image: Supplied)
Hammett inherits a list of 34 players that includes 15 with Test experience and 10 of the overachieving Blossoms squad from the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
| Name | Position | Test Caps | Japanese Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryuhei Arita | Hooker | 9 | Coca-Cola Red Sparks |
| Timothy Bond | Lock | 0 | – |
| Derek Carpenter | Centre | 0 | Toyota Verblitz |
| Andrew Durutalo | Back Row | 0 | – |
| Ziun Gu | Prop | 0 | Takushoku University |
| Shohei Hirano | Prop | 0 | Tokai University |
| Atsushi Hiwasa | Scrumhalf | 51 | Suntory Sungoliath |
| Shota Horie | Hooker | 42 | Panasonic Wild Knights |
| Yoshiya Hosoda | Back Row | 0 | NEC Green Rockets |
| Keita Inagaki | Prop | 10 | Panasonic Wild Knights |
| Daisuke Inoue | Scrumhalf | 0 | Kubota Spears |
| Shinnosuke Kakinaga | Prop | 6 | Suntory Sungoliath |
| Takeshi Kizu | Hooker | 41 | Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers |
| Yamamoto Koki | Prop | 0 | Yamaha Jubilo |
| Faatiga Lemalu | Back Row | 0 | Munakata Sanix Blues |
| Tomas Leonardi | Back Row | 0 | – |
| Amanaki Lotoahea | Wing | 0 | Ricoh Black Rams |
| Shinya Makabe | Lock | 34 | Suntory Sungoliath |
| Paea Mifi Poseti | Centre | 0 | NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes |
| Masataka Mikami | Prop | 32 | Toshiba Brave Lupus |
| Liaki Moli | Lock | 0 | – |
| Tsuyoshi Murata | Back Row | 5 | NEC Green Rockets |
| Hitoshi Ono | Lock | 96 | Toshiba Brave Lupus |
| Tusi Pisi | Flyhalf | 0 | Suntory Sungoliath |
| Eddie Quirk | Flanker | 0 | – |
| Yusataka Sasakura | Fullback | 0 | Panasonic Wild Knights |
| John Stewart | Wing | 0 | – |
| Yu Tamura | Centre | 35 | NEC Green Rockets |
| Harumichi Tatekawa | Flyhalf | 43 | Kubota Spears |
| Riaan Viljoen | Fullback | 0 | – |
| Akihito Yamada | Wing | 15 | Panasonic Wild Knights |
| Ryohei Yamanaka | Centre | 4 | Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers |
| Hajime Yamashita | Fullback | 0 | Toyota Shokki Shuttles |
| Yuki Yatomi | Scrumhalf | 16 | Yamaha Jubilo |
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.