Former Sunwolves head coach Tony Brown has again suggested South African rugby had a ‘hateful’ role to play in the exit of the Japanese team from Vodacom Super Rugby.

It was confirmed last year that 2020 would be the Sunwolves’ last season in the competition, but the Covid-19 outbreak meant this year’s campaign stopped prematurely and thus ended the Sunwolves’ Super Rugby stay.

The Japanese team suffered another blow this week when its proposed involvement in the Australian Super Rugby spin-off tournament fell through.

Brown, who is currently an assistant coach at the Highlanders, has previously been critical of South Africa’s role in the Sunwolves’ demise but took his attack to a new level now that the team was officially booted out of Super Rugby.

He is adamant the Sunwolves were targeted after Japan voted for France, rather than South Africa, in a closely fought race to stage the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

‘I just feel as though the relationship between South Africa and Japan was pretty nasty there when South Africa were really trying to get the Sunwolves kicked out of the competition,’ said Brown.

‘I’ve mentioned previously the hatred South Africa had for the Sunwolves and Japan rugby around them not voting for South Africa to host the World Cup.

‘I think that’s where it started and now we’ve ended up with not having the Sunwolves involved and a little bit of grey around what role Japan will play in the future of Super Rugby.’

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Photo: PhotoSport