Japan's Sunwolves would be eager to participate in Rugby Australia's proposed competition to leave a legacy before their Super Rugby departure.
Rugby Australia is considering the inclusion of both Western Force and the Sunwolves in a competition with their four Super Rugby sides to start in early July.
The resumption of Super Rugby is impossible, because of international travel bans, so Australia hopes to follow New Zealand's lead by setting up a one-country competition to get players back on the pitch.
When Super Rugby was suspended, due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Sunwolves were playing in their final season, before being axed from the otherwise southern hemisphere competition.
Sunwolves chief executive Yuji Watase welcomes the proposal and would be happy for the team to be based in Australia for the duration of the competition.
"Yes, we've been discussing with Rugby Australia about restarting the competition and they've been helping us to proceed with our involvement," Watase has told Reuters.
The 2020 season was set to be the Sunwolves' last in Super Rugby, after governing body SANZAAR and the Japanese Football Rugby Union failed to agree on the terms of their inclusion.
"This is to be the last season and we definitely would like to leave a legacy," says Watase, who doesn't expect participation in Rugby Australia's competition to lead to re-inclusion in Super Rugby next season.
"I believe participating in this competition is a different story from Super Rugby in the future," he says. "SANZAAR is the one to decide the future for Super Rugby."
Rugby Australia say the competition would last for 12 weeks from early July, with the last two rounds encompassing the playoffs and final.
Reuters
