Seven set for Sunwolves debuts


Sunwolves head coach Jamie Joseph has named seven debutants in his matchday 23 to take on the Brumbies at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday. 

New Zealand duo Jason Emery and Robbie Robinson start at full-back and fly-half respectively while South African Grant Hattingh packs down in the second row.

Emery joined from the Highlanders in Super Rugby and Robinson from the Ricoh Black Rams in Japan. 

South African Grant Hattingh joins from the Kubota Spears in Japan and packs down in the second row for his new side.

Meanwhile, recent signings Jaba Bregvadze (Worcester Warriors), Craig Millar (Highlanders), Asaeli Ai Valu (Panasonic Wild Knights), James Moore (Brave Lupus) and Hayden Parker (Highlanders) are also set for debuts from the replacements bench.

Sunwolves: 15 Jason Emery, 14 Lomano Lava Lemeki, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Hosea Saumaki, 10 Robbie Robinson, 9 Yutaka Nagare (c), 8 Willem Britz, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Kazuki Himeno, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Jiwon Koo, 2 Ho Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki
Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 James Moore, 20 Edward Quirk, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Hayden Parker, 23 Sione Teaupa

Date: Saturday, February 24
Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo
Kick-off: 13:15 local (04:15 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Egon Seconds (South Africa), Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
TMO: Minoru Fuji (Japan)

The post Seven set for Sunwolves debuts appeared first on Planet Rugby.