Naoya Okubo becomes the first Japanese head coach in Super Rugby

Tokyo-based Super Rugby outfit the Sunwolves named former Japan international flanker Naoya Okubo as their new head coach.

Okubo represented Japan at the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups and becomes the first Japanese head coach in Super Rugby. The 43-year-old replaces New Zealander Tony Brown, who was the caretaker coach at the Sunwolves last season.

With Brown also returning to New Zealand to join the Highlanders. Okubo was part of Brown’s coaching staff last year and was also the head coach of the Japanese Top League side Suntory Sungoliath from 2012-2014.

The 2020 season will be the Sunwolves’ last in Super Rugby, after the competition’s governing body SANZAAR and the Japanese Football Rugby Union failed to agree on the terms of their inclusion in March.

“Supporters of Sunwolves are the number one fans in the world,” Okubo said in a statement.

“It was a difficult 2019 season as the team did not win at home. We promise our supporters that we would show our proudest form at home with players and staff as one team.”

Okubo wants the Sunwolves to leave a lasting legacy of rugby in Japan post-World Cup.

“Only time will tell what will happen during the Rugby World Cup, but the Sunwolves in the 2020 season will have to be a team through which Japanese rugby can make a confident and strong first step forward in the post-World Cup time.”

“I am honoured and also feel the pressure to get involved in such important period of Japanese rugby.”