Super Rugby
Former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans linked to Sunwolves Super Rugby post
ESPN Staff
December 14, 2015
Robbie Deans
Robbie Deans© (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Former Australia coach Robbie Deans and former Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett have been linked with the vacant Sunwolves Super Rugby position in Japan.

The New Zealand Herald reports that "pressure is rising on Deans", the former Crusaders and Wallabies coach now in charge of Japanese Top League club Panasonic Wild Knights, to take the position, while Kyodo News is quoting "a source close to the matter" as saying that Hammett, who left Cardiff Blues after six months in February 2015 was under consideration.

Hammett joined Tasman Makos in August, as an assistant coach, and Fairfax Media in New Zealand quoted a source saying that Tasman Rugby Union "had heard nothing about any contact from Japan and assumed Hammett would fulfill his contract".

The former All Blacks hooker joined the Makos to replace Leon MacDonald, who was appointed to replace Kieran Keane as head coach after the latter signed as assistant coach of the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise.

Fairfax quoted the source as saying also they "believed [Hammett] was contracted to do some work with the Crusaders in the coming Super Rugby season.

The Sunwolves will join the expanded, 18-team Super Rugby competition in 2016, along with the returning Southern Kings from Port Elizabeth and a new franchise from Argentina, and they are scheduled to make their competition debut against the Lions in Tokyo on February 27.

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