Sunwolves to get new Super Rugby coach in 2017

Japan’s Super Rugby franchise the Sunwolves will have a new coach for the 2017 Super Rugby season after it was announced that current coach Mark Hammett will join the Highlanders.

Sunwolves head coach Hammett stepped in late last year on a one year contract with the Japanese side and has made no secret that he wants to remain in Super Rugby but would prefer to be in New Zealand.

On Thursday Hammett was named as an Assistant coach to Tony Brown with the Highlanders for the 2017 Super Rugby season which confirms that the 2016 season will be Hammett’s last with the Sunwolves.

The Highlanders head coaching job became available as a result of current head coach Jamie Joseph taking charge of the Japanese national side who are currently being coached on a temporary basis by Hammett.

Brown will be in charge of the Highlanders in 2017 and in 2018 will join Joseph in Japan with the national side.

According to Kyodo News JRFU chairman Sakamoto is considering asking Joseph to also take charge of the Sunwolves next season.

Joseph and Brown transformed the Highlanders from “also rans” into Super Rugby champions in 2015 and their presence in Japan will be a big boost for the Sunwolves and the National side the Brave Blossoms.