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This Japanese club's new headquarters puts international teams to shame

15 Jul 2020

(Source/Rich Freeman Twitter)

The Panasonic Wild Knights might not be one of the best club teams in the world, but they certainly have the facilities of one.

One of the powerful clubs in Japan that has previously been home to Sonny Bill Williams, David Pocock, the Wild Knights announced the will move into new team facilities for 2022 ahead of the proposed new pro league.

Journalist Rich Freeman shared the new images of the Wild Knights impressive team facilities on Twitter, which look more like an NFL teams headquarters than any rugby club. The facility includes an indoor training ground, an admin building and hotel.

Canon Eagles vs Panasonic Wild Knights in the Japan Top League

Two structures flank the in goals of each side of the outdoor training field, with one multi-storied building that looks like the hotel offering views over the pitch.

The admin building on the other side sits next to a covered indoor training pitch.

To think that the best teams in the world such as the All Blacks and Springboks don’t even have a home training facility, really shows the gap of wealth between the Japan Top League and the rest of the world.

The world class facility is sure to please the players that end up moving to the club, which has recently had Sam Whitelock and Damian de Allende on the books.

Currently coached by Robbie Deans, the club has won five Top League titles over the last decade or so, including a three peat (2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016), affirming their status as one of the leaders in Japan.

With the power wielded by some of the industry titans of the world, the companies in the Top League could continue to transform the Japan league as the place to be.

Recently, All Black Beauden Barrett announced he will join the Suntory Sungoliath for a season in 2021 as part of his sabbatical deal.

It is part of a growing trend that is seeing All Blacks prefer to take up deals in Japan over Europe.

If the Japanese companies keep investing in their rugby teams like this, who knows how big the Top League could become.

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Comments on RugbyPass

GrahamVF 4 minutes ago

Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

Play more argue less.

50 Go to comments

TI 7 minutes ago

Social media post gets sarcastic response from Henry Slade

Goodness, why do they have to drag parents into this?

What a creepy weirdo comment.

3 Go to comments

JWH 19 minutes ago

Razor has an about turn on All Blacks eligibility rules

All of their first fives. Robinson is basically a fullback, and Faleafaga doesn’t know when to pass the ball. Cam is just begging to get laid out every time he gets the ball too.

23 Go to comments

JW 20 minutes ago

Razor has an about turn on All Blacks eligibility rules

You can pick them, because you need to with the amount of injuries these days, but they need to just start with the right order!

23 Go to comments

JW 21 minutes ago

Razor has an about turn on All Blacks eligibility rules

Savea was very average last year, where do you sit there? Giving him another year?

23 Go to comments

JW 22 minutes ago

Razor has an about turn on All Blacks eligibility rules

Yep allowing Razor to cut loose with some wild idea like picking overseas players what be the last thing on Robinson would want to do I’d imagine. Just like the players need a solid framework to perform, so do every other part of the team!

23 Go to comments

JW 25 minutes ago

Razor has an about turn on All Blacks eligibility rules

LOL who’s this?

23 Go to comments

PR 25 minutes ago

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I agree Roos should be a 6. The same with Cam Hanekom. I think for now Rassie sees either or both as a back-up to Kwagga to bring impact off the bench. It seems the preferred option at 8 remains Jasper Wiese. Not a massive fan but he was brilliant against England at Twickenham and is apparently playing well in Japan.

The World Cup might well be a bridge too far for Siya. Rassie did say that he has to be the best in his position to keep his spot in the Bok side and the captaincy. I’m sure Siya knows this and he tends to take his game to another level when he plays for the Boks.

4 Go to comments

JW 27 minutes ago

Razor has an about turn on All Blacks eligibility rules

Which had a bit of egg on it’s face the following week. When it came down to it he said that Jacomb is basically just performing the job of the 10 two wide, instead of directly, in that a lot of the time Dmac just passed him the ball.

Obviously as you’d expect in your debut season, it’s progressive to start with. But as far as the convo goes, he’s certainly had the least time and hasn’t continued to raise expectations like the other names have, allowing them to catch up to him a bit.

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Kendrick Bruce 32 minutes ago

Super Rugby Pacific's rebirth can finally restore the missing All Blacks edge

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Kendrick Bruce 33 minutes ago

Super Rugby Pacific's rebirth can finally restore the missing All Blacks edge

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JW 33 minutes ago

Razor has an about turn on All Blacks eligibility rules

What if he’s not a 7, and wants to continue playing 8? You want two #7 jerseys on the park? Or are we switching Ardie to 7 and Lakai to 8?

If Sam Cane is so good at mentoring and preparing players, well surely that is the coaches job?

Good question. If Razor had all his experience and coaching ability, but was still able to go toe to toe with the players on the training paddock, do you think he’d then be a better coach, or that the players would learn more easily from him, then? That’s probably what you need to ask yourself to solve that question. Is there enough? There’s Jason, and Razor, when it comes to those positions, I’m sure the others can help answer questions but eh, how about from someone who actually knows?

How well you function in the team and help the team is definitely rewarded in your contract.

23 Go to comments

JW 39 minutes ago

Razor has an about turn on All Blacks eligibility rules

Late last year, All Blacks coach Scott Robertson was adamant that New Zealand Rugby’s eligibility policy was no longer fit for purpose.

Nah, he wasn’t. He was adamant NZR need to keep an open mind about those sorts of things if they want to compete at the top.

The whole time he came across as someone who didn’t really know what he was talking about. It was also very evident again in this interview talking about the goodstuff currently. He’s shown know inclincling that he’s actually had a desire to understand either side, he merely wants those that do and can, to think about it. Is he really satisfied they’ve done that? I don’t know, he’s still not showing much intelligence around the players at his disposal this year, calling Dmac “a good runner”, so he probably still looks at SA and wants what Rassie’s got.

This was definitely a public display, you shouldn’t even be asking the question. You just need to find out about what.