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Sunwolves expected to miss out on Australian Super Rugby competition

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The Sunwolves won’t be a part of the rebooted Australian Super Rugby competition with time and logistics counting against them.

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While all parties were hopeful the Tokyo team could join the four current Australian Super Rugby side, as well as the Western Force, in a 10-week competition starting July 4, it’s now highly unlikely.

With international borders remaining closed Rugby Australia can’t afford to wait on government approval for the Sunwolves, who would then have to be quarantined for two weeks, pushing back a competition re-start which already trails the NRL and AFL.

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RA will already likely have to accommodate the Perth-based Force on the eastern seaboard.

“Things are progressing really well with the Force but I think the international border restrictions are probably going to make it pretty hard for Japan,” said Melbourne Rebels chief executive Baden Stephenson, who also sits on RA’s return to play committee.

“At one stage they were thinking about using their Australian and New Zealand players and some Japanese players but I think that the more they worked through the process the harder it is looking.”

The last of the Australian sides resumed training this week and are hopeful of ramping it up from next Monday to include larger group sizes – up from 10 – and contact work.

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Slated to resume full training from June 8, they are now hopeful of bringing that forward one week.

Meanwhile, Stephenson said his club was confident of keeping star Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete, who has been targeted for a return to the NRL.

The reigning John Eales medallist is also in the sights of cashed up European and Japanese outfits circling Australian players, who are concerned about the dire financial situation of RA.

“Marika has signed a two-year deal and he’s a high profile player for us and the Wallabies,” Stephenson told AAP.

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“I’d be very surprised once we get back up and running we’d be looking to release him plus I think Marika is pretty happy and settled here in Melbourne with his young family.”

Stephenson acknowledged that there were a number of players who were off contract and had been approached to play overseas and said the uncertainty over Super Rugby’s future beyond 2021 wasn’t helping.

He said there were a number of issues to cover off including what the competition would look like in 2021, the broadcast deal, available revenues and salary cap.

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R
RedWarrior 34 minutes ago
Records show All Blacks' greatest rugby adversary is now Ireland

Foster was literally whinging about the TMO in the Ireland series in the presser AFTER the RWC final. NZs whinging about the final itself was apparently picked up by Voyager 2 which was near the asteroid belt. What about the whingefest and crybabies after O'Mahony's legendary sledge (during the match) on Sam Cane?


I often hear talk about NZ players being poisoned or similar nonsense during the 1995 final. NZ boast that they are 'superstars' and 'humble heroes' on their own website. You gave England the same treatment in 2002-2003, calling them arrogant just because they beat you. They told the rest of us then what you were like, we should have listened. I would give as much credence to a NZ supporter disliking us, as I would to Krusty the clown saying the same thing. Let's just say your judgement may not be the best.


Regarding 2016, as the referee had basically let NZ away with cheating their way to victory via filthy dangerous play and fouling he was hardly going to pull Sexton up when clearly trying to stop a grounding. NZ always leave the boot or arm in to hurt a try scorer but that seems to be invisible to you entitles lot.


BTW NZ have literally being whinging and crying about Ireland since Soldier field. You are just very bad losers. We will be delighted to be shot of you on Friday. I hope we do so with a win, so that you rethink your philosophy of mocking opponents and spectators you've just beaten.


After the match last Saturday the internet was full of Kiwi supporters basically abusing English folk. Where is your national honour? Where is your national integrity?

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