As doom has engulfed the Rebels, there is plenty of talk of what is to come next in Super Rugby. I feel that Japanese rugby is rising and rumours are that a Japanese entry is on the cards for 2026. Although the demise of the Rebels is a sad story, and there are many in Melbourne (including myself) who will miss a professional rugby presence in Victoria, it can also be a time to reflect and build a vision for the future.
Japanese Rugby, particularly at the club level, is growing fast. Players from the best Test sides are flocking to the cashed-up clubs owned by huge companies such as Toyota and Suntory. More Rugby Some of the best coaching minds in the game have been allured by Ramen, Onsens and of course the Japanese Yen.
The quality of rugby is improving, and the world is starting to notice. A vision for Super Rugby in 2026 includes the entry of an existing Japanese team into Super Rugby. An established team with an established fanbase can challenge the best teams in their first year of the competition.
That is the key. The Sunwolves failed because they were woefully unsuccessful, had no connection to Australia, New Zealand or South Africa and no one even really knew where they were from. The same mistake shouldn’t be made again.
The URC (formally the Celtic League) has exploded partly because the Stormers won it in their first year, the South Africans were hooked, and the Irish wanted revenge. Kobelco Kobe Steelers’ Ardie Savea scores a try during the Japan Rugby League.
