Sunwolves get together for the first time

Japan’s new Super Rugby team the Sunwolves first gathered together as a squad on Wednesday which is 24 days before the start of Super Rugby.

Sunwolves coach Mark Hammett and his players came together for two days for medical checks and administrative duties before the squad meets again on Monday.

Players from the new Asian Super Rugby side will re-convene on Monday in Nagoya when the real work will begin in preparation for their first match on the 27th of February against the Lions in Tokyo..

“Everyone is excited but a little bit nervous,” Hammett told Kyodo News

“Today is nothing more than getting to know each other and for us as coaches to get to know the players.

“Super Rugby is the hardest competition in the world. But in saying that we need to bring our Sunwolves style of rugby and develop it over the coming months.”

While the squad will have two weeks of training behind them by the end of the month Hammett’s players will have just one Super Rugby warm up before they face the Johannesburg-based Lions in their historic opener.

“There are some players we have not met before,” said flyhalf/center Harumichi Tatekawa. ”

We need to communicate well to create a strong team.”

The Sunwolves will play a Top League All Star XV on Feb. 13. They have named their squad and included veterans Shotaro Onishi, Takashi Kikutani and Toshiaki Hirose who will captain the side.