Japan wants 'super' name
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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.
The team will compete alongside the Kings from South Africa and a soon-to-be-announced outfit from Argentina, who will also be new additions to the Southern Hemisphere competition.
In a statement the JRFU said it was "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 said the country is ready to establish itself in top-class provincial rugby.
"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.
The concept for the team's name according to the JRFU should include: A name that describes a brave Japanese side challenging the world’s top teams with passion and pride; a name that is internationally recognised and enables us to attract international rugby fans and a name that represents the imagery of Japanese culture, tradition and history.
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