Related Research Articles
Super Rugby is a men's professional rugby union club competition involving teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. It previously included teams from Argentina, Japan, and South Africa. Building on various Southern Hemisphere competitions dating back to the South Pacific Championship in 1986, with teams from a number of southern nations, the Super Rugby started as the Super 12 in the 1996 season with 12 teams from 3 countries: Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The Super 12 was established by SANZAR after the sport became professional in 1995. At its peak the tournament featured the top players from nations representing 16 of the 24 top-three finishes in the history of the Rugby World Cup. After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the competition to split into three, the reformed competition in 2021 and beyond will only include Oceanian clubs representing Australia, New Zealand and from the Pacific islands.
Juanne Hugo Smith is a South African former professional rugby union player who represented South Africa in international test rugby, the Cheetahs in the Super Rugby competition, and the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup. He mainly played as a blindside flanker, although he has also played number eight.
James Whitinui Joseph is a New Zealand-born Japanese former rugby union player and current rugby union coach. A flanker, Joseph represented Otago at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1992 to 1995, before representing Japan in 1999. Joseph, now head coach of the Japanese national side, has coached since his retirement, coming through the ranks in New Zealand before his first national stint.
The Southern Kings were a South African professional rugby union team that competed in Super Rugby and Pro14. They were based in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape province and played their home matches at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. They were created in 2009, and had their first match against the British & Irish Lions during their 2009 tour. After competing in Super Rugby in 2013, 2016 and 2017, they joined Pro14 prior to the 2017–18 season, along with the Cheetahs.
The Super Rugby competition in rugby union, including teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands and, in the past, from Argentina, Japan and South Africa, is based on a "franchise" system of teams. The original member countries – Australia, New Zealand and South Africa – all have several regional franchises, while the expansion countries – Argentina, Fiji, Japan and the Pacific Islands – have/had one franchise each. The article covers specific detail as to the areas covered by each Super Rugby team. Bold denotes stadiums that are current primary stadiums for the franchises.
Riaan Viljoen is a professional South African rugby union rugby player, currently playing with Japanese Super Rugby side the Sunwolves and Top League West side NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes. He was born in Carletonville, South Africa and his first tour with the Springboks was to France, Italy, Ireland and England in late 2009 where he played in two touring matches. He signed with the Sharks for the 2012 and the 2013 Super Rugby tournaments.
Johann Sadie is a professional South African rugby union player. He usually plays as a centre and currently plays for French Top 14 side Agen.
Phillip Daniel Burleigh is a Scottish international rugby union player who plays for Kyuden Voltex in Japan. He previously played for Canterbury (2018), Edinburgh Rugby (2014-2018).
Willem Jacobus le Roux is a South African rugby union player. He is a versatile back-line player who generally plays as a fullback or wing, though earlier in his career he played mostly as a fly-half. He plays for the South Africa national team and for Toyota Verblitz in the Top League. He was born in Stellenbosch.
Pieter Hermias Cornelius 'Lappies' Labuschagné is a South African rugby union footballer who regularly plays as a flanker. He currently plays in the Japanese Top League with Kubota Spears and is currently playing for the Sunwolves. He represents Japan at international level having satisfied residency requirements.
Rayno Shannon Benjamin is a South African rugby union footballer who plays as a wing or centre for Japanese Top East League side Shimizu Blue Sharks.
Willem Stephanus Britz is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Houston SaberCats in Major League Rugby (MLR). He previously played for the Japanese sides the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and the NTT Communications Shining Arcs in the Top League.
Shota Horie is a Japanese rugby union player. His preferred position is hooker although he can also play in the back row. He represents Japan at the international level. He has played for the Panasonic Wild Knights in the domestic Japanese Top League competition, and in 2013 began playing Super Rugby with the Melbourne Rebels in Australia, but has since gone back to Japan to play for the Sunwolves.
Craig Millar is a New Zealand-born Japanese rugby union player who currently plays as a loosehead prop for Otago in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and previously for the Tokyo based Super Rugby franchise the Sunwolves.
Keita Inagaki is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a prop. He was signed by the Sunwolves for the 2016 season of the international Super Rugby competition. He has also played for Australian team Melbourne Rebels and Top League side the Panasonic Wild Knights in his home country.
Kaito Shigeno is a Japanese international rugby union player who plays in the scrum-half position. He currently plays for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and the NEC Green Rockets in Japan's domestic Top League.
Hosea Saumaki is a Tongan rugby union player who plays as a wing for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby. He previously played for Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Canon Eagles in Japan's domestic Top League.
Hayden Cripps is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a fly-half. He currently plays for Hino Red Dolphins in Japan's domestic Top League. He represented the Sunwolves in the 2017 Super Rugby season.
Hikaru Tamura is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a fly-half. He currently plays for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan's domestic Top League. He represented the Sunwolves in the 2017 Super Rugby season.
Takaaki Nakazuru is a Japanese rugby union player who plays as a wing. He currently plays for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan's domestic Top League. He represented the Sunwolves in the 2017 Super Rugby season.
References
- ↑ "Shota Emi itsrugby Profile". itsrugby. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ↑ "Cheetahs snatch victory from the Sunwolves". ESPN Rugby. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ↑ "2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens Teams". World Rugby. Archived from the original on 11 August 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
 | This biographical article relating to Japanese rugby union is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |