Here’s a little good news (even if not exactly unexpected)…. the five Japanese-based Sharks Super Rugby players are due to return to South Africa next week, on completion of the revised Japanese season.
In the past,t here’s always been an overlap, meaning arrivals from Japan have typically only happened late in February or even early in March, after the Super Rugby competition has begun. One good consequence of the Sunwolves’ inclusion seems to be a re-jig of the Japanese calendar, meaning all teams end their season well in time for the start of Super Rugby.
Renaldo Bothma, Marcell Coetzee, Jacques Potgieter, JP Pietersen and Willie le Roux will thus all enjoy a good month of training with their team mates ahead of the first game against the Kings on February 27. Missing nearly three months of pre-season is, of course, not ideal, but this is a huge improvement on the way things were, all the same.
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Hopefully Japan has kept them fit enough that they will not be lacking after missing the pre season work.
A month is definitely better than what it has been.
I think this might see more players doing this. 😐
@Southern_Shark (Comment 2) : Can you blame them? I don’t
Im interested to see what kind of form Renaldo Bothma produces as his RWC was pretty poor. I think he is a better player than just a basher so hopefully the other skillfull loosies we have push him to up his game in that way.
@Seth101 (Comment 3) : Think the Sharks will do good to employ Mr Miyagi in Japan to keep the conditioned and in tip top shap
@Henkb (Comment 5) : Some good old wax on, wax off always does the trick. 😉
@Southern_Shark (Comment 2) : only 2 foreign born players per team allowed on the field at a time.8 teams in the japanese league.
@Seth101 (Comment 3) : No I would too. 🙂 @50shadesofshark (Comment 7) : Did not know that. Does it however stop them from having more in their squad?
@Southern_Shark (Comment 8) : how many foreign based players will a team contract if only 2 allowed per time on the field?another 2 on the bench?not only sa players looking for contracts in japan.aus,kiwi and pacific islanders.
@50shadesofshark (Comment 9) : There seems to be a lot more than 16 foreign players in the Jap league though. You sure its only 2?
@50shadesofshark (Comment 7) : Is that only 2 foreign players on the field at a time or is it only in the match day squad?
@Henkb (Comment 11) : @SheldonK (Comment 10) : only 2 foreign born players per team allowed on the field at a time.
@Henkb (Comment 11) : 2 foreign born players on the bench to replace the 2 foreign born players on the field? 4 in a match day team of 23?
@50shadesofshark (Comment 12) : There is very little info about it but yeh that does seem to be the case. The team squads must be fairly large though when i try think of all the players playing in Japan. I mean just off the top of my head thinking of the SA Guys: Marcel Coetzee, Renaldo Bothma, Willie Leroux, Jaques Potgieter, JPP Pieterson, Andries Bekker, Jaque Fourie, Fourie DuPreez, Schalk Burger, Eben Etzebeth, Damien DeAllende, Heinrich Brussouw, Riaan Viljoen
@SheldonK (Comment 14) : could that perhaps not change with a shortened japanese league season?which will lead to players then chasing the euro/pound rather than yen?and in so doing be lost for any sa sr team?this is not an ideal situation but it is much better than losing players to long-term contracts to the european teams.
Interesting note… Chelsea has a medical team that keeps an eye on fitness, injuries etc of players they’ve loaned out to other clubs. Obviously not on that scale, but I’m sure having a guy in Japan to keep tabs on our guys won’t be a terrible move…
@50shadesofshark (Comment 15) : Ah tough to say really. Remember barring France other Euro teams have salary caps etc. The Jap league is seen as a bit easier on the body as due to restrictions you dont play every week etc. There will come a point where the leagues become saturated though and you will see less movement abroad i believe. I reckon by the time the next RWC rolls around there will be far less movement purely as there wont be space abroad
@the ko (Comment 16) : Im sure the Sharks do keep tabs on their guys abroad. I mean they are contracted so effectively are the Sharks assets. Not much they can do to prevent injury though and obviously cant influence fatigue or form however. Best case scenario is getting updates on the players health stats and fitness results
@SheldonK (Comment 10) : @Henkb (Comment 11) : @50shadesofshark (Comment 13) : that’s correct only two foreign players allowed on the field at a time so 2 on the field and 2 on the bench but most teams have more than 4 foreign players in their broader squad. Also remember as soon as a player played for their national team he is not seen as a foreign player anymore, so players like Michael Leitch does not count as a foreign player.
That us good news. I am quite keen to see how Jaques P steps back into his SA shoes.
@JD (Comment 19) : seems as if one player from an asian rugby union country per team also allowed.at a time.2 players foreign born,one naturalized foreign born,and one from an asian ru country.4 non-japanese born per team on the field.not counting the bench.
@SheldonK (Comment 10) : i made a mistake.there is not 8 but 16 teams in the japanese top league.
@SheldonK (Comment 14) : Frans Steyn also there, JPP and FS playing against each other this weekend in the final
@50shadesofshark (Comment 22) : Ah ok that would make sense then with all the foreigners. So 16 teams with say 8 foreigners each. Thats 128 guys. Sounds like a lot but there is only space for that many not continually more and more
@Uli Boelie (Comment 23) : Ya flip forgot about Frans. He is in the side coached by Stonehouse
@Uli Boelie (Comment 23) : elton jantjes.keegan daniel.
@robdylan: any idea when richard kahui will be joining the sharks? 😀
@50shadesofshark (Comment 27) : hahaha talk about crazy optimism
@coolfusion (Comment 20) : I hope he has not forgotten all the lessons he learned at the Waratahs.
@Bokhoring (Comment 29) : Ja that’s why I made the comment. Let’s hope he can use the spaces and not revert to SA brand bash em up.
@SheldonK (Comment 28) : 😀
@50shadesofshark (Comment 27) : I believe on the 32nd of Nevuary
@robdylan (Comment 32) :
@robdylan (Comment 32) : at least we now have a date!!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 32) : thanks!:D
@JD (Comment 34) : 😀
I see that JPP made it into the Japan Top League team of the season…
@pastorshark (Comment 37) : by all accounts he had a very good season in Japan and he should have as he started to find his old form during World cup.
@pastorshark (Comment 37) : @JD (Comment 38) : Yeh i saw that…he has played all season at 13 though. Watched him a few times and always broke the line…just needs to get his wing away after breaking that line now
@SheldonK (Comment 39) : Yup…looked good in the games that I saw. Maybe he is an option at 13 for us after all…
@pastorshark (Comment 40) : I think so. I can also think of a lot of guys that would be easier to defend against in that 13 channel than JPP.
@pastorshark (Comment 40) : @SheldonK (Comment 41) : yes and can’t see to many people eager to run at him as he’s not a bad defender either. Might be a very good option at 13 with Jordaan and Sithole moving to wing?!?!
@SheldonK (Comment 41) : @JD (Comment 42) : Yup…he just wasn’t very good in the last Super Rugby season, whether at centre or wing. I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes in 2016…
@pastorshark (Comment 43) : @JD (Comment 42) : I think JPP last year was solid abut unspectacular and yes probably a bit off form. It happens. Especially in an under performing team. Hopefully this year he returns in some good form. Id be happy with Mvovo,Jordaan, Sithole, Mjekevu as our wing options
@SheldonK (Comment 44) : Sure…