Wanted: Name for Japan Super Rugby team

Cape Town - The Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) has launched a fan engagement initiative as part of the process to devise a name for its new team that will join Super Rugby in 2016, alongside the Kings from South Africa and a soon-to-be-announced outfit from Argentina.

The JRFU is committed to developing a broad and passionate support base and has taken the process public to give fans a say in the establishment of the team's identity

Director of Rugby, Eddie Jones, commented: "Japan is ready to take part in Super Rugby, the world's foremost provincial rugby competition featuring the best players on earth.

"We call upon the fans to become the 24th player and help Japan build a team to challenge the best. Our team needs to be uniquely Japanese. We need to be fast, courageous but also smart and play rugby that the world has not seen before.

"Joining Super Rugby gives Japanese players the opportunity to play high level rugby consistently so that the players will go to Rugby World Cup 2019 with more than 40 Test caps and 50-60 Super Rugby caps."

The team will be based at Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Stadium with three home games per season to be played at the Singapore Sports Hub.