Sunwolves

{{Infobox rugby team

| teamname = Sunwolves

| image = Sunwolves logo.svg

| location = Tokyo, Japan

| countryflag =

| founded = 2015

| disbanded = 1 June {{start year and age|2020}}

| ground = {{nowrap|Chichibunomiya Stadium, Tokyo (most games)
Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong
Singapore Sports Hub, Singapore}}

| capacity =

| chairman =

| ceo =

| coach =

| captain =

| league = Super Rugby

| season = 2020

| position = 5th (Australian Conference)
15th (overall) (season abandoned)

| top scorer = Hayden Parker (248)

| most tries = Semisi Masirewa (13)

| caps = Takuma Asahara (43)

| url = https://sunwolves.or.jp/en/

| unionurl = http://jrfu.org

| pattern_la1 = _Sunwolvesleft17

| pattern_b1 = _Sunwolveskit17

| pattern_ra1 = _Sunwolvesright17

| pattern_sh1 =

| pattern_so1 = _Sunwolvessocks17

| leftarm1 = EE0044

| body1 =

| rightarm1 =

| shorts1 = ffffff

| socks1 =

| pattern_la2 = _Sunwolvesleftb17

| pattern_b2 = _Sunwolveskitb17

| pattern_ra2 = _Sunwolvesrightb17

| pattern_sh2 =

| pattern_so2 = _Sunwolvessocksb17

| leftarm2 = EE0044

| body2 =

| rightarm2 =

| shorts2 = 000000

| socks2 =

| current =

}}

The Sunwolves (Japanese: {{lang|ja|サンウルブズ}}) – previously known as the HITO-Communications Sunwolves for sponsorship reasons – were a professional rugby union team and Japan's representative team in SANZAAR's international Super Rugby competition. The team was based in Tokyo, Japan, but also played some home matches in Singapore. They made their debut in Super Rugby in 2016. In March 2019, it was announced that 2020 would be the final season for the Sunwolves, after failing to negotiate a contract due to financial considerations.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/news/sunwolves-axed-super-rugby-2020-season-99030|title=Sunwolves axed from Super Rugby after 2020 season|date=22 March 2019|publisher=Rugby World}}

With the suspension of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Sunwolves being declined entry into the replacement Super Rugby AU competition in Australia due to various factors, the team officially dissolved on 1 June 2020.{{Cite web|title=Sunwolves won't compete in Super Rugby AU|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/06/01/super-rugby-au-sunwolves|access-date=2020-06-10|website=Rugby.com.au|date=June 2020 |language=en}}

History

=Inclusion in Super Rugby=

Since its launch in 1996, the SANZAR-organised Super Rugby competition (previously known as Super 12 and Super 14) was limited to teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In 2011, it was announced that SANZAR would expand its international Tri Nations competition to include Argentina, which resulted in that competition being rebranded as The Rugby Championship.{{cite web | url=http://www.rugby.com.au/wallabies/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1516/ArticleID/4906/Default.aspx | title="The Rugby Championship" to replace Tri Nations | work=rugby.com.au | access-date=8 November 2011}} This led to rumours that Argentina would also seek to have teams included in the Super Rugby competition{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/aug/08/super-rugby-considers-argentinian-teams | title=Super Rugby may accept Argentinian teams in 2016 | publisher=Guardian | date=8 August 2013 | access-date=17 April 2015}}{{cite web | url=http://www.superxv.com/news/super15_rugby_news.asp?id=40113 | title=Pichot: Argentina in Super Rugby is a no brainer | publisher=SuperXV | date=23 August 2013 | access-date=17 April 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417174018/http://www.superxv.com/news/super15_rugby_news.asp?id=40113 | archive-date=17 April 2015 | url-status=dead }} and SANZAR confirmed that they would explore expansion to other regions in future. However, since SANZAR sold the existing Super Rugby package to its broadcasters for the period 2011–15, it meant that no changes to the format would be permitted until the 2016 season.{{cite news | url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/rugby-gold/super-rugby-going-global/story-fn8ti7yn-1226268126917 | title=Super Rugby going global | work=Sydney Daily Telegraph | date=11 February 2012 | access-date=17 April 2015}}

In 2013, SANZAR CEO Greg Peters announced that Super Rugby would be expanded from the 2016 season onwards, adding that South African franchise the {{Rut|Southern Kings}} would be one of the expansion teams.{{cite web | url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/sanzar-boss-greg-peters-confirms-south-africa-will-be-granted-a-sixth-super-rugby-franchise-from-2016/story-fni2u98u-1226710357974 | title=SANZAR boss Greg Peters confirms South Africa will get a sixth Super Rugby franchise from 2016 | work=Herald Sun | date=4 September 2013 | access-date=26 August 2013}} In early 2014, SANZAR confirmed that Super Rugby would be increased from 15 to 18 teams starting from the 2016 season, with Argentine side {{Rut|Jaguares}} getting one of the additional spots. It was confirmed that both Argentina and the 18th team would participate in the South African Conference.{{cite press release | url=http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/search-begins-for-18th-super-rugby-team/ | title=Search begins for 18th Super Rugby team | publisher=SANZAR | date=2 May 2014 | access-date=17 April 2015}}

Asia emerged as the preferred destination for the final licence and Japan and Singapore emerged as the main contenders to get the franchise.{{cite web | url=http://www.superxv.com/43747/1/singapore-and-japan-still-in-a-race-for-18th-team | title=Singapore and Japan still in a race for 18th team | publisher=SuperXV | date=21 October 2014 | access-date=17 April 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924111920/http://www.superxv.com/43747/1/singapore-and-japan-still-in-a-race-for-18th-team | archive-date=24 September 2015 }} With a number of factors counting in Japan's favour – such as their domestic professional league (the Top League) increasingly being able to attract big-name foreign players, the country being awarded the hosting of the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the Japan national team breaking into the top ten of the World Rugby rankings for the first time in their history in 2014{{cite web | url=http://www.arfu.com/news/2014/06/brave-blossoms-break-into-top-ten | title=Brave Blossoms break into the top ten | publisher=Asian Rugby Football Union | date=24 June 2014 | access-date=17 April 2015}} – they were subsequently granted the licence for the 18th franchise in October 2014{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/29756459 | title=Super Rugby: Japan chosen to host new franchise from 2016 | publisher=BBC | date=24 October 2014 | access-date=17 April 2015}} – with an agreement reached that Singapore would host three of their home matches each season at the Singapore Sports Hub.{{cite web | url=http://jrfu.org/jrfu/index.php/latest/item/270-japan-s-entry-into-super-rugby-is-dream-come-true | title=Japan's entry into Super Rugby is 'dream come true' | publisher=JRFU | date=20 November 2014 | access-date=17 April 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319224330/http://jrfu.org/jrfu/index.php/latest/item/270-japan-s-entry-into-super-rugby-is-dream-come-true | archive-date=19 March 2015 | url-status=dead }} The new expanded format and three new teams were formally approved by the SANZAR Executive Committee in November 2014.{{cite press release | url=http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/japan-and-argentina-officially-join-super-rugby/ | title=Japan and Argentina officially join Super Rugby | publisher=SANZAR | date=20 November 2014 | access-date=17 April 2015}}

In April 2015, the JRFU established a corporation called Japan Super Rugby Association that would manage the operations of the team. A number of key appointments were also made; Yoshitaka Tashiro was appointed as chairman, Yuichi Ueno as the CEO and on the playing side, the Japan national team's head coach Eddie Jones was appointed as the director of rugby for the team.{{cite web | url=http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/eddie-jones-lands-super-rugby-role | title=Eddie Jones lands Super Rugby role | publisher=SANZAR | date=24 April 2015 | access-date=24 April 2015}} In May 2015, a website was launched to ask fans for team name suggestions.

However, several doubts were raised against Japan's ability to set up the team on time. In August 2015, Eddie Jones announced that he would leave his role as director of rugby amid speculation linking him to the vacant {{Rut|Stormers}} head coach position.{{cite web | url=http://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/japan-rugby-coach-jones-confirms-departure-after-world-cup | title=Japan rugby coach Jones confirms departure after World Cup | work=Japan Today | date=25 August 2015 | access-date=25 August 2015}} Subsequent media reports stated that governing body SANZAR were exploring alternative plans for the 2016 Super Rugby competition which excluded the Japanese team,{{cite web | url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/super-rugby/super-rugby-set-to-cut-japanese-club-from-2016-competition-after-concerns-it-wont-field-side/story-e6frf4qu-1227498654030 | title=Super Rugby set to cut Japanese club from 2016 competition after concerns it won't field side | work=The Daily telegraph | date=25 August 2015 | access-date=25 August 2015}} but the JRFU commented shortly after, confirming that they have met SANZAR's requirements by contracting players and other personnel by their end-of-August deadline.{{cite web | url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/08/29/more-sports/rugby/japan-working-to-get-super-rugby-tasks-completed-jrfu-executive-says | title=Japan working to get Super Rugby tasks completed, JRFU executive says | work=Japan Times | date=29 August 2015 | access-date=30 August 2015}}{{cite web | url=http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002393110 | title=Formation of Super Rugby team complete | publisher=The Japan News | work=The Yomiuri Shimbun | date=2 September 2015 | access-date=2 September 2015}} The validity of the player list submitted was questioned, with many players included not "generally associated with the national team". There were also suggestions that Top League teams requested that their players' appearances be limited in Super Rugby and that Top League matches would be prioritised.{{cite web | url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/09/02/more-sports/rugby/japans-super-rubgy-participation-remains-uncertain | title=Japan's Super Rugby participation remains uncertain | publisher=The Japan Times | work=Kyodo | date=2 September 2015 | access-date=2 September 2015}}

However, they were included in the Super Rugby fixture list that came out on 28 September 2015{{cite press release | url=http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/draw-released-for-new-era-of-super-rugby/ | title=Draw released for new era of Super Rugby | publisher=SANZAR | date=28 September 2015 | access-date=28 September 2015}}{{cite web | url=https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vm9ate6bkrhzvdv/AADu52y42rQ919vFqMsPZJ6Da?dl=0 | title=2016 Draw | publisher=SANZAR | date=28 September 2015 | access-date=28 September 2015}} and on 5 October 2015, it was announced that the team would be known as the Sunwolves.{{cite web | url=http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/super-rugby-welcomes-the-sunwolves/ | title=Super Rugby welcomes the Sunwolves | work=SANZAR | date=5 October 2015 | access-date=5 October 2015}}

=Name=

File:Sunwolves logo HITO-com.jpg

In May 2015, a website was launched to ask fans for team name suggestions. This was initially scheduled to be revealed at the end of July 2015, before being postponed to August.{{cite web | url=http://jrfu.org/jrfu/index.php/component/k2/item/324-name-the-team-contest | title=Name-the-team Contest (Super Rugby from the 2016 Season) | work=JRFU | date=29 May 2015 | access-date=29 May 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708074910/http://jrfu.org/jrfu/index.php/component/k2/item/324-name-the-team-contest | archive-date=8 July 2015 | url-status=dead }} On 5 October 2015, it was announced that the team would be known as the Sunwolves. This name was chosen from 3,320 entries{{cite web | url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/10/05/more-sports/rugby/japan-eyes-world-cup-heroes-super-rugbys-sunwolves | title=Japan eyes World Cup heroes for Super Rugby's Sunwolves | work=The Japan Times | date=5 October 2015 | access-date=5 October 2015}} and is a combination of the "Land of the Rising Sun" and the wolf, which was chosen to represent bravery, strength and an ethos of teamwork. The team's logo was also launched on the same date.

On 15 January 2016, the Sunwolves announced that they would be known as the HITO-Communications Sunwolves following a sponsorship agreement.{{cite press release | url=https://super-japanrugby.com/en/news/team-name-announcement/ | title=Super Rugby Japanese Team SUNWOLVES Team Name & Logo Announcement "HITO-Communications SUNWOLVES" | publisher=Sunwolves | date=15 January 2016 | access-date=15 January 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105085204/https://super-japanrugby.com/en/news/team-name-announcement/ | archive-date=5 November 2016 }}

=Future=

In March 2019, the Japanese Rugby Football Union announced the 2020 season would be the Sunwolves' last in Super Rugby after failing to negotiate a contract to play after that year for financial reasons.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/news/sunwolves-axed-super-rugby-2020-season-99030|title=Sunwolves axed from Super Rugby after 2020 season|date=22 March 2019|publisher=Rugby World}}

=Season summaries=

The following table summarises the Sunwolves' results in Super Rugby:

colspan="100%" \| Sunwolves Super Rugby seasons
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
style="width:3em;" \| Season ! style="width:3em;" \| Played ! style="width:3em;" \| Won ! style="width:3em;" \| Drawn ! style="width:3em;" \| Lost ! style="width:3em;" \| PF ! style="width:3em;" \| PA ! style="width:5em;" \| Pos ! style="width:9em;" \| Coach ! style="width:9em;" \| Captain

style="line-height:3em;" \| 2016 \| 15	1	1	13	293	627	18 of 18 \| style="text-align:left;" \| Mark Hammett \| style="text-align:left;" \| Shota Horie
style="line-height:3em;" \| 2017 \| 15	2	0	13	315	671	17 of 18 \| style="text-align:left;" \| Filo Tiatia \| style="text-align:left;" \| Ed Quirk
2018 \| 15	3	0	13	404	664	15 of 15 \| style="text-align:left;" \| Jamie Joseph Tony Brown \| style="text-align:left;" \| Willie Britz Yutaka Nagare
2019 \| 16	2	0	14	294	584	15 of 15 \| style="text-align:left;" \| Tony Brown \| style="text-align:left;" \| Michael Little Craig Millar
2020 \| 6	1	0	5	101	292	15 of 15 \| style="text-align:left;" \| Naoya Okubo \| style="text-align:left;" \| Keisuke Moriya Jake Schatz

Legend: PF = Points for, PA = Points against, Pos = Log position.

=Kit history=

The Sunwolves have played in the following kits since their inception:

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%; width:40%"
colspan=100% \| Sunwolves kits
style="width:20%;" \| Season ! style="width:40%;" \| Home ! style="width:40%;" \| Away
2016 \| {{Football kit \| pattern_b=_Sunwolveskit \| pattern_ra=_Sunwolvesright \| pattern_so=_Sunwolvessocks \| leftarm=EE0044 \| shorts=000000 \| title=2016 home kit}} \| {{Football kit \| pattern_b=_Sunwolveskitb \| pattern_ra=_Sunwolvesrightb \| pattern_so=_Sunwolvessocksb \| leftarm=C3C3C3 \| rightarm=C3C3C3 \| shorts=000000 \| title=2016 away kit}}
2017 \| {{Football kit \| pattern_la=_Sunwolvesleft17 \| pattern_b=_Sunwolveskit17 \| pattern_ra=_Sunwolvesright17 \| pattern_so=_Sunwolvessocks17 \| leftarm=EE0044 \| shorts=ffffff \| title=2017 home kit}} \| {{Football kit \| pattern_la=_Sunwolvesleftb17 \| pattern_b=_Sunwolveskitb17 \| pattern_ra=_Sunwolvesrightb17 \| pattern_so=_Sunwolvessocksb17 \| leftarm=EE0044 \| shorts=000000 \| title=2017 away kit}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%; width:40%"

colspan=100% | Sunwolves kits

style="width:20%;" | Season

! style="width:40%;" | Home

! style="width:40%;" | Away

2016

| {{Football kit | pattern_b=_Sunwolveskit | pattern_ra=_Sunwolvesright | pattern_so=_Sunwolvessocks | leftarm=EE0044 | shorts=000000 | title=2016 home kit}}

| {{Football kit | pattern_b=_Sunwolveskitb | pattern_ra=_Sunwolvesrightb | pattern_so=_Sunwolvessocksb | leftarm=C3C3C3 | rightarm=C3C3C3 | shorts=000000 | title=2016 away kit}}

2017

| {{Football kit | pattern_la=_Sunwolvesleft17 | pattern_b=_Sunwolveskit17 | pattern_ra=_Sunwolvesright17 | pattern_so=_Sunwolvessocks17 | leftarm=EE0044 | shorts=ffffff | title=2017 home kit}}

| {{Football kit | pattern_la=_Sunwolvesleftb17 | pattern_b=_Sunwolveskitb17 | pattern_ra=_Sunwolvesrightb17 | pattern_so=_Sunwolvessocksb17 | leftarm=EE0044 | shorts=000000 | title=2017 away kit}}

Stadium

Sunwolves home games are split between Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo, Japan and Singapore National Stadium, Singapore.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin: 1em auto;"
width="33%" \| Tokyo, Japan ! width="34%" \| Kallang, Singapore
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium \| Singapore National Stadium
Capacity: 27,188 \| Capacity: 55,000
200px \| 200px

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin: 1em auto;"

width="33%" | Tokyo, Japan

! width="34%" | Kallang, Singapore

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium

| Singapore National Stadium

Capacity: 27,188

| Capacity: 55,000

200px

| 200px

Staff

=Former players=

{{for|a list of former players who have represented the Sunwolves in Super Rugby|List of Sunwolves players}}

=List of head coaches=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:95%;"
scope=col\|Coach !scope=col data-sort-type=date\|Period !scope=col\|{{Abbr\|G\|Games as coach}} !scope=col\|{{Abbr\|W\|Games won}} !scope=col\|{{Abbr\|D\|Games drawn}} !scope=col\|{{Abbr\|L\|Games lost}} !scope=col\|{{Abbr\|%\|Win percentage}} !scope=col\|Honours !scope=col\|{{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
align=left\|{{flagdeco\|NZL}} {{sortname\|Mark\|Hammett}} \|align=center\|2016 {{WLD\|decimals=2\|15 \|1 \|1 \|13}} \| \|{{cite news \| url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/dec/21/mark-hammett-named-coach-of-japans-super-rugby-sunwolves \| title=Mark Hammett named coach of Japan's Super Rugby Sunwolves \| date=December 21, 2015 \| newspaper=The Guardian}}{{cite news \| url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/12/21/more-sports/japan-reveals-sunwolves-roster-hammett-named-coach/#.WwPKUy9L3q0 \| title=Japan reveals Sunwolves roster; Hammett named as coach \| date=December 21, 2015 \| newspaper=The Japan Times}}{{cite news \| url=http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12334/10106746/mark-hammett-named-coach-of-japans-super-15-team \| title=Mark Hammett named coach of Japan's Super 15 team \| date=December 21, 2015 \| newspaper=Sky Sports}}
align=left\|{{flagdeco\|NZL}} {{sortname\|Filo\|Tiatia}} \|align=center\|2017 {{WLD\|decimals=2\|15 \|2 \|0 \|13}} \| \|{{cite news \| url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11709046 \| title=Rugby: Former All Black named as Sunwolves head coach \| date=September 13, 2016 \| newspaper=The New Zealand Herald}}{{cite news \| url=http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12334/10575138/filo-tiatia-replaces-mark-hammett-as-sunwolves-head-coach \| title=Filo Tiatia replaces Mark Hammett as Sunwolves head coach \| date=September 14, 2016 \| newspaper=Sky Sports}}{{cite news \| url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/tiatia-named-new-sunwolves-coach \| title=Tiatia named new Sunwolves coach \| date=September 14, 2016 \| newspaper=SBS}}
align=left\|{{flagdeco\|NZL}}{{flagdeco\|JPN}} {{sortname\|Jamie\|Joseph}} \|align=center\|2018 {{WLD\|decimals=2\|16 \|3 \|0 \|13}} \| \|{{cite news \| url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/09/29/more-sports/joseph-replaces-tiatia-head-coach-sunwolves/#.WwPM-y9L3q0 \| title=Joseph replaces Tiatia as head coach of Sunwolves \| date=September 29, 2017 \| newspaper=The Japan Times}}{{cite news \| url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2017/09/ea33b401a726-rugby-joseph-takes-over-from-tiatia-as-head-coach-of-sunwolves.html \| title=Rugby: Joseph takes over from Tiatia as head coach of Sunwolves \| date=September 29, 2017 \| newspaper=Kyodo News}}{{cite news \| url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/japan-coach-jamie-joseph-will-also-lead-the-sunwolves-in-super-rugby/news-story/10abc4b24da6e67eb9a57155392f05f1?nk=da47d1bd9fa7bb9ce310d7d9a08727df-1526975982 \| title=Japan coach Jamie Joseph will also lead the Sunwolves in Super Rugby \| date=September 29, 2017 \| newspaper=Fox Sports Australia}}
align=left\|{{flagdeco\|NZL}} {{sortname\|Tony\|Brown\|dab=rugby union}} \|align=center\|2019 {{WLD\|decimals=2\|16 \|2 \|0 \|14}} \| \|{{cite press release \| url=https://sunwolves.or.jp/en/information/article/6773/ \| title=Tony Brown Appointed as Head Coach of HITO-Communications SUNWOLVES \| publisher=Sunwolves \| date=27 September 2018 \| access-date=5 October 2018}}
align=left\|{{flagdeco\|JPN}} {{sortname\|Naoya\|Okubo}} \|align=center\|2020 {{WLD\|decimals=2\|6 \|1 \|0 \|5}} \| \|{{cite press release \| url=https://sunwolves.or.jp/information/article/6904/ \| title=スーパーラグビー2020シーズンヘッドコーチ決定のお知らせ \| publisher=Sunwolves \| date=30 August 2019 \| access-date=30 August 2019 \| language=ja}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:95%;"

scope=col|Coach

!scope=col data-sort-type=date|Period

!scope=col|{{Abbr|G|Games as coach}}

!scope=col|{{Abbr|W|Games won}}

!scope=col|{{Abbr|D|Games drawn}}

!scope=col|{{Abbr|L|Games lost}}

!scope=col|{{Abbr|%|Win percentage}}

!scope=col|Honours

!scope=col|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

align=left|{{flagdeco|NZL}} {{sortname|Mark|Hammett}}

|align=center|2016

{{WLD|decimals=2|15

|13}}

|{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/dec/21/mark-hammett-named-coach-of-japans-super-rugby-sunwolves | title=Mark Hammett named coach of Japan's Super Rugby Sunwolves | date=December 21, 2015 | newspaper=The Guardian}}{{cite news | url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/12/21/more-sports/japan-reveals-sunwolves-roster-hammett-named-coach/#.WwPKUy9L3q0 | title=Japan reveals Sunwolves roster; Hammett named as coach | date=December 21, 2015 | newspaper=The Japan Times}}{{cite news | url=http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12334/10106746/mark-hammett-named-coach-of-japans-super-15-team | title=Mark Hammett named coach of Japan's Super 15 team | date=December 21, 2015 | newspaper=Sky Sports}}

align=left|{{flagdeco|NZL}} {{sortname|Filo|Tiatia}}

|align=center|2017

{{WLD|decimals=2|15

|13}}

|{{cite news | url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11709046 | title=Rugby: Former All Black named as Sunwolves head coach | date=September 13, 2016 | newspaper=The New Zealand Herald}}{{cite news | url=http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12334/10575138/filo-tiatia-replaces-mark-hammett-as-sunwolves-head-coach | title=Filo Tiatia replaces Mark Hammett as Sunwolves head coach | date=September 14, 2016 | newspaper=Sky Sports}}{{cite news | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/tiatia-named-new-sunwolves-coach | title=Tiatia named new Sunwolves coach | date=September 14, 2016 | newspaper=SBS}}

align=left|{{flagdeco|NZL}}{{flagdeco|JPN}} {{sortname|Jamie|Joseph}}

|align=center|2018

{{WLD|decimals=2|16

|13}}

|{{cite news | url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/09/29/more-sports/joseph-replaces-tiatia-head-coach-sunwolves/#.WwPM-y9L3q0 | title=Joseph replaces Tiatia as head coach of Sunwolves | date=September 29, 2017 | newspaper=The Japan Times}}{{cite news | url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2017/09/ea33b401a726-rugby-joseph-takes-over-from-tiatia-as-head-coach-of-sunwolves.html | title=Rugby: Joseph takes over from Tiatia as head coach of Sunwolves | date=September 29, 2017 | newspaper=Kyodo News}}{{cite news | url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/japan-coach-jamie-joseph-will-also-lead-the-sunwolves-in-super-rugby/news-story/10abc4b24da6e67eb9a57155392f05f1?nk=da47d1bd9fa7bb9ce310d7d9a08727df-1526975982 | title=Japan coach Jamie Joseph will also lead the Sunwolves in Super Rugby | date=September 29, 2017 | newspaper=Fox Sports Australia}}

align=left|{{flagdeco|NZL}} {{sortname|Tony|Brown|dab=rugby union}}

|align=center|2019

{{WLD|decimals=2|16

|14}}

|{{cite press release | url=https://sunwolves.or.jp/en/information/article/6773/ | title=Tony Brown Appointed as Head Coach of HITO-Communications SUNWOLVES | publisher=Sunwolves | date=27 September 2018 | access-date=5 October 2018}}

align=left|{{flagdeco|JPN}} {{sortname|Naoya|Okubo}}

|align=center|2020

{{WLD|decimals=2|6

|5}}

|{{cite press release | url=https://sunwolves.or.jp/information/article/6904/ | title=スーパーラグビー2020シーズンヘッドコーチ決定のお知らせ | publisher=Sunwolves | date=30 August 2019 | access-date=30 August 2019 | language=ja}}