New Zealander Mark Hammett "was confirmed as the inaugural coach of Japan's new Super Rugby team the Sunwolves on Monday," according to Nick Mulvenney of REUTERS. The former All Blacks player, who had four seasons in charge at the Wellington Hurricanes, "also revealed the Tokyo and Singapore-based team's 34-man squad" for its first season. The squad contained 15 players with test experience and 10 of the Japan squad that "stunned the rugby world by beating South Africa at the recent World Cup and went on to win three games." The Sunwolves will "join an expanded 18-team Super Rugby competition with Argentina's Jaguares and South Africa's Kings also joining." Sporting a "red and orange strip that was also unveiled on Monday, the first Asian Super Rugby side will play in one of the South Africa conferences along with the Bulls, Cheetahs and Stormers." The announcements "might go some way to easing concerns in southern hemisphere rugby circles about how competitive the Sunwolves will be" in their first season with "so little time remaining" before the team takes on South Africa's Lions on Feb. 27 (REUTERS, 12/21).
