Former All Blacks hooker Mark Hammett was unveiled as the head coach of Japan’s new Super Rugby side the Sunwolves on Monday, along with an experienced 34-man squad.
The Tokyo-based franchise will play in a blood orange kit with a reserve strip of grey, it was announced by southern hemisphere governing body SANZAR.
They face South Africa’s Golden Lions at home in their first match on February 27.
Hammett, who made 29 appearances for New Zealand from 1999 to 2003, previously coached the Wellington Hurricanes (2011-14) in his first spell as a Super Rugby head coach.
The 43-year-old disciplinarian faces a major challenge to prepare the side for their opening match in Tokyo following an alarming delay in naming their coaching and playing staff.
The Sunwolves will join an expanded 18-team competition next year along with the Southern Kings of South Africa and Argentina’s first franchise, the Jaguares who will be based in Buenos Aires.
Hammett’s playing staff includes 15 with Test experience and 10 of the Brave Blossoms squad which took the recent World Cup by storm.
Former Auckland Blues lock Liaki Moli and ex-Hurricanes flyhalf Tusi Pisi will also line up for the Japanese side, along with Argentina loose forward Tomas Leonardi, South African full-back Riaan Viljoen and Australia under-20 flanker Eddie Quirk.
The Brave Blossoms put Japanese rugby on the map by winning three World Cup pool games, including a stunning 34-32 victory over two-time champions South Africa in their opening game, the biggest upset in the tournament’s history.
But Super Rugby organisers have admitted to concerns over how the Sunwolves will fare after they took so long to announce key appointments.
Another former All Black, Otago Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph, is expected to be named as Japan’s new head coach later this week following the departure of Eddie Jones, who recently took over the England top job.