# 2017 Sunwolves season

In 2017, the Sunwolves participated in the 2017 Super Rugby competition, their second ever appearance in the competition since joining in 2016. They were included in the Africa 1 Conference of the competition, along with the Bulls, Cheetahs and Stormers.

## Personnel
### Coaches and management

The Sunwolves coaching and management staff for the 2017 Super Rugby season were:
| 2017 Sunwolves coaches and management |
| Position | Name |
| Head coach | Filo Tiatia |
| Assistant coaches | Shin Hasegawa |
| Assistant coaches | Simon Jones |
| Assistant coaches | Ben Herring |
| Assistant coaches | Atsushi Tanabe |

### Squad

The following players were named in the Sunwolves squad for the 2017 Super Rugby season:
| 2017 Sunwolves squad |
| Player | Club | Position/s | Date of birth (age) | Super Rugby | Super Rugby | Sunwolves | Sunwolves |
| Player | Club | Position/s | Date of birth (age) | Apps | Pts | Apps | Pts |
| Takuma Asahara | Toshiba Brave Lupus | Prop | (1987-09-07)7 September 1987 (aged 29) | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Kohei Asahori | Toyota Verblitz | Prop | (1994-02-03)3 February 1994 (aged 23) | – | – | – | – |
| Michael Bond | Coca-Cola Red Sparks | Centre | (1987-01-27)27 January 1987 (aged 30) | – | – | – | – |
| Willie Britz | NTT Shining Arcs | Flanker | (1988-08-31)31 August 1988 (aged 28) | 25 | 0 | – | – |
| Derek Carpenter | Suntory Sungoliath | Centre | (1988-07-26)26 July 1988 (aged 28) | 12 | 25 | 12 | 25 |
| Hayden Cripps | Tokyo Gas | Fly-half | (1990-10-30)30 October 1990 (aged 26) | – | – | – | – |
| Shota Emi | Suntory Sungoliath | Winger | (1991-12-08)8 December 1991 (aged 25) | – | – | – | – |
| Kenki Fukuoka | Panasonic Wild Knights | Winger | (1992-09-07)7 September 1992 (aged 24) | – | – | – | – |
| Teruya Goto | NEC Green Rockets | Winger | (1991-12-18)18 December 1991 (aged 25) | – | – | – | – |
| Kazushi Hano | NTT Shining Arcs | Fullback | (1991-06-21)21 June 1991 (aged 25) | – | – | – | – |
| Uwe Helu | Yamaha Júbilo | Flanker | (1990-07-12)12 July 1990 (aged 26) | – | – | – | – |
| Takeshi Hino | Yamaha Júbilo | Hooker | (1990-01-20)20 January 1990 (aged 27) | – | – | – | – |
| Shota Horie | Panasonic Wild Knights | Hooker | (1986-01-21)21 January 1986 (aged 31) | 30 | 20 | 12 | 15 |
| Malgene Ilaua | Toshiba Brave Lupus | Number eight | (1993-06-05)5 June 1993 (aged 23) | – | – | – | – |
| Keita Inagaki | Panasonic Wild Knights | Prop | (1990-06-02)2 June 1990 (aged 26) | 11 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Heiichiro Ito | Yamaha Júbilo | Prop | (1990-10-05)5 October 1990 (aged 26) | – | – | – | – |
| Kyosuke Kajikawa | Toshiba Brave Lupus | Lock | (1987-09-05)5 September 1987 (aged 29) | – | – | – | – |
| Shokei Kin | NTT Shining Arcs | Flanker | (1991-10-03)3 October 1991 (aged 25) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Takeshi Kizu | Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers | Hooker | (1988-07-15)15 July 1988 (aged 28) | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Koo Ji-won | Takushoku University | Prop | (1994-07-02)2 July 1994 (aged 22) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Naohiro Kotaki | Toshiba Brave Lupus | Lock | (1992-06-13)13 June 1992 (aged 24) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Timothy Lafaele | Coca-Cola Red Sparks | Centre | (1991-08-19)19 August 1991 (aged 25) | – | – | – | – |
| Shinya Makabe | Suntory Sungoliath | Lock | (1987-03-26)26 March 1987 (aged 29) | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Rikiya Matsuda | Panasonic Wild Knights | Fullback | (1994-05-04)4 May 1994 (aged 22) | – | – | – | – |
| Shuhei Matsuhashi | Ricoh Blacks Rams | Number eight | (1993-11-24)24 November 1993 (aged 23) | – | – | – | – |
| Kotaro Matsushima | Suntory Sungoliath | Fullback | (1993-02-26)26 February 1993 (aged 23) | 5 | 0 | – | – |
| Masataka Mikami | Toshiba Brave Lupus | Prop | (1988-06-04)4 June 1988 (aged 28) | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Yuhimaru Mimura | Yamaha Júbilo | Number eight | (1989-02-27)27 February 1989 (aged 27) | – | – | – | – |
| Ataata Moeakiola | Tokai University | Winger | (1996-02-06)6 February 1996 (aged 21) | – | – | – | – |
| Liaki Moli | — | Lock | (1990-01-04)4 January 1990 (aged 27) | 38 | 10 | 14 | 5 |
| Yutaka Nagare | Suntory Sungoliath | Scrum-half | (1992-09-04)4 September 1992 (aged 24) | – | – | – | – |
| Takaaki Nakazuru | Suntory Sungoliath | Winger | (1990-10-24)24 October 1990 (aged 26) | – | – | – | – |
| Yusuke Niwai | Canon Eagles | Hooker | (1991-10-22)22 October 1991 (aged 25) | – | – | – | – |
| Shunsuke Nunomaki | Panasonic Wild Knights | Flanker | (1992-07-13)13 July 1992 (aged 24) | – | – | – | – |
| Yuya Odo | Yamaha Júbilo | Lock | (1990-03-09)9 March 1990 (aged 26) | – | – | – | – |
| Takahiro Ogawa | Toshiba Brave Lupus | Scrum-half | (1991-03-18)18 March 1991 (aged 25) | – | – | – | – |
| Jumpei Ogura | NTT Shining Arcs | Fly-half | (1992-07-11)11 July 1992 (aged 24) | – | – | – | – |
| Hitoshi Ono | Toshiba Brave Lupus | Lock | (1978-05-06)6 May 1978 (aged 38) | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Ed Quirk | — | Flanker | (1991-08-28)28 August 1991 (aged 25) | 54 | 5 | 15 | 0 |
| Atsushi Sakate | Panasonic Wild Knights | Hooker | (1993-06-21)21 June 1993 (aged 23) | – | – | – | – |
| Yasutaka Sasakura | Panasonic Wild Knights | Fullback | (1988-08-04)4 August 1988 (aged 28) | 9 | 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Kaito Shigeno | NEC Green Rockets | Scrum-half | (1990-11-21)21 November 1990 (aged 26) | 11 | 5 | 11 | 5 |
| Hikaru Tamura | Toshiba Brave Lupus | Fly-half | (1993-09-12)12 September 1993 (aged 23) | – | – | – | – |
| Yu Tamura | NEC Green Rockets | Fly-half | (1989-01-09)9 January 1989 (aged 28) | 15 | 27 | 15 | 27 |
| Fumiaki Tanaka | Panasonic Wild Knights | Scrum-half | (1985-01-03)3 January 1985 (aged 32) | 46 | 10 | – | – |
| Harumichi Tatekawa | Kubota Spears | Fly-half | (1989-12-02)2 December 1989 (aged 27) | 13 | 5 | 13 | 5 |
| JJ Taulagi | Munawata Sanix Blues | Fullback | (1993-06-18)18 June 1993 (aged 23) | 10 | 5 | – | – |
| Yoshitaka Tokunaga | Toshiba Brave Lupus | Number eight | (1992-04-10)10 April 1992 (aged 24) | – | – | – | – |
| Will Tupou | Coca-Cola Red Sparks | Centre | (1990-07-20)20 July 1990 (aged 26) | 13 | 5 | – | – |
| Keisuke Uchida | Panasonic Wild Knights | Scrum-half | (1992-02-22)22 February 1992 (aged 25) | – | – | – | – |
| Kazuhiko Usami | Canon Eagles | Lock | (1992-03-17)17 March 1992 (aged 24) | – | – | – | – |
| Riaan Viljoen | NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes | Fullback | (1983-04-01)1 April 1983 (aged 33) | 64 | 101 | 15 | 16 |
| Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco | NTT Shining Arcs | Number eight | (1995-09-28)28 September 1995 (aged 21) | – | – | – | – |
| Sam Wykes | Coca-Cola Red Sparks | Lock | (1988-04-25)25 April 1988 (aged 28) | 87 | 15 | – | – |
| Yasuo Yamaji | Canon Eagles | Prop | (1985-02-20)20 February 1985 (aged 32) | – | – | – | – |
| Koki Yamamoto | Yamaha Júbilo | Prop | (1990-10-29)29 October 1990 (aged 26) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ryohei Yamanaka | Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers | Centre | (1988-06-22)22 June 1988 (aged 28) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Kotaro Yatabe | Panasonic Wild Knights | Lock | (1986-07-29)29 July 1986 (aged 30) | – | – | – | – |
| Yuki Yatomi | Yamaha Júbilo | Scrum-half | (1985-02-16)16 February 1985 (aged 32) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Note: Players' ages and statistics are correct as of 23 February 2017, the date of the opening round of the competition. |

## Log

The final standings for the 2017 Super Rugby season were:
2016 Super Rugby standings: South African Group :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Lions | 15 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 590 | 268 | +322 | 81 | 27 | 9 | 0 | 65 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 2 | Stormers | 15 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 490 | 436 | +54 | 64 | 61 | 3 | 0 | 43 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 3 | Sharks | 15 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 392 | 323 | +69 | 38 | 37 | 1 | 3 | 42 | Wildcard teams Qualify to finals |
| 4 | Jaguares | 15 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 404 | 386 | +18 | 49 | 45 | 1 | 4 | 33 | |
| 5 | Southern Kings | 15 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 391 | 470 | −79 | 49 | 60 | 1 | 3 | 28 | Dropped from Super Rugby for the 2018 season |
| 6 | Cheetahs | 15 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 395 | 551 | −156 | 46 | 75 | 1 | 4 | 21 | Dropped from Super Rugby for the 2018 season |
| 7 | Bulls | 15 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 339 | 459 | −120 | 39 | 59 | 0 | 4 | 20 | |
| 8 | Sunwolves | 15 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 315 | 671 | −356 | 41 | 96 | 1 | 3 | 12 | |
Africa 1 Conference :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pts |
| 1 | Stormers | 43 |
| 2 | Cheetahs | 21 |
| 3 | Bulls | 20 |
| 4 | Sunwolves | 12 |
Overall :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Lions | 65 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 2 | Crusaders | 63 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 3 | Stormers | 43 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 4 | Brumbies | 34 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 5 | Hurricanes | 58 | Wildcard teams Qualify to finals |
| 6 | Chiefs | 57 | Wildcard teams Qualify to finals |
| 7 | Highlanders | 51 | Wildcard teams Qualify to finals |
| 8 | Sharks | 42 | Wildcard teams Qualify to finals |
| 9 | Blues | 37 | |
| 10 | Jaguares | 33 | |
| 11 | Southern Kings | 28 | Dropped from Super Rugby for the 2018 season |
| 12 | Force | 26 | Dropped from Super Rugby for the 2018 season |
| 13 | Cheetahs | 21 | Dropped from Super Rugby for the 2018 season |
| 14 | Reds | 21 | |
| 15 | Bulls | 20 | |
| 16 | Waratahs | 19 | |
| 17 | Sunwolves | 12 | |
| 18 | Rebels | 9 | |
* Competition rules
* Qualification:
* The top eight teams will qualify to the finals, with their final positions in the overall log determining their seedings in the quarter-finals. The conference winners will be seeded #1 to #4 for the quarter-finals, in order of log points gained during the group stages, while the wildcards will be seeded as #5 to #8 in order of log points gained during the group stages. In the quarter-finals, the conference winners will host the first round of the finals, with the highest-seeded conference winner hosting the fourth-seeded wildcard entry, the second-seeded conference winner hosting the third-seeded wildcard entry, the third-seeded conference winner hosting the second-seeded wildcard entry and the fourth-seeded conference winner hosting the top-seed wildcard entry. The Quarter Final winners will progress to the semi-finals, where the winners of quarter-finals 1 and 4 will play each other, as well as the winners of quarter-finals 2 and 3, each tie hosted by the higher-seeded team. The winner of the semi-finals will progress to the Final, again to be held at the venue of the highest-seeded team.
* Points breakdown: * 4 points for a win * 2 points for a draw * 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 bonus point for scoring at least three tries more than the opponent in a match
* Classification: Teams standings are calculated as follows: * Conference Leaders (i.e. conference leaders will always be ranked at the top) * Log points * Number of games won * Overall points difference * Number of tries scored * Overall try difference

## Player statistics

The Super Rugby appearance record for players that represented the Sunwolves in 2017 is as follows:
| 2017 Sunwolves player statistics |
| Player name | HUR | KIN | CHE | BUL | STO | BUL | CRU | HIG | CHI | JAG | SHA | CHE | LIO | STO | BLU | App | Try | Kck | Pts |
| Masataka Mikami | 1 | 1 | 17 | 17 | 17 | | | | | | 17 | | 1 | 17 | 17 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shota Horie | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Heiichiro Ito | 3 | 3 | | 18 | 3 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 3 | | | | | | | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Liaki Moli | 4 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | 7 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Sam Wykes | 5 | 5 | 19 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | | | 13 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Malgene Ilaua | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Quirk | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | 6 | 6 | 6 | 20 | | | | | | 9 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Willie Britz | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | | | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Keisuke Uchida | 9 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 9 | | | | | 21 | 21 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Hikaru Tamura | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kenki Fukuoka | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | | | | 11 | 11 | | | | 11 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| Derek Carpenter | 12 | 12 | 12 | | 12 | 12 | 12 | | 12 | | | 13 | 12 | 12 | | 10 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| Timothy Lafaele | 13 | 13 | | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | | 12 | | | | | 12 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 22 |
| Takaaki Nakazuru | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | | 14 | 14 | 14 | | | | 14 | 14 | | | 9 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Riaan Viljoen | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | 23 | 15 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Takeshi Hino | 16 | 16 | | | | 16 | | | | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Koki Yamamoto | 17 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 1 | | 17 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Takuma Asahara | 18 | 18 | 18 | | 18 | | 3 | | 18 | 18 | 18 | 3 | 18 | 3 | | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kotaro Yatabe | 19 | 19 | | | | | | | | | | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shokei Kin | 20 | 7 | 20 | | 7 | | | | | | | 20 | 7 | 20 | | 7 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Kaito Shigeno | 21 | | 21 | 21 | 21 | | | | | | | | 21 | 21 | 21 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Ryohei Yamanaka | 22 | | | 23 | 23 | 23 | | | | 23 | 13 | | 13 | 13 | 23 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Shota Emi | 23 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | | | | | 14 | 14 | 11 | | | | 8 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| Fumiaki Tanaka | | 9 | | | | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | | 9 | 9 | | | | 7 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Hayden Cripps | | 10 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 10 | | 22 | 10 | | | | | | | 7 | 1 | 33 | 38 |
| Shuhei Matsuhashi | | 20 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 7 | | | | | 7 | 7 | | 7 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Will Tupou | | 22 | 13 | | | | 22 | 13 | 13 | 13 | | 23 | | | 13 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Jamie-Jerry Taulagi | | 23 | 23 | 13 | 15 | | 23 | 23 | 23 | | | | | | | 7 | 0 | 11 | 11 |
| Yusuke Niwai | | | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 16 | 2 | | 2 | | | 16 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasuo Yamaji | | | 3 | 3 | | 3 | | 3 | | 3 | 3 | 18 | 3 | | 18 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Uwe Helu | | | 5 | 5 | 19 | 5 | | 5 | 19 | 5 | | | 19 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Atsushi Sakate | | | 16 | 16 | 16 | | | | | | | | 2 | 16 | | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jumpei Ogura | | | 22 | 22 | 10 | | | | | 22 | 22 | 22 | 10 | 23 | 22 | 9 | 0 | 20 | 20 |
| Yoshitaka Tokunaga | | | | 20 | | 6 | | | | | 6 | | 6 | 19 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco | | | | | | 8 | 8 | 20 | 20 | 6 | 20 | 8 | | | | 7 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Kotaro Matsushima | | | | | | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | | 14 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Keita Inagaki | | | | | | 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 1 | | | | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shunsuke Nunomaki | | | | | | 20 | 7 | | 7 | 7 | | | | | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yuki Yatomi | | | | | | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 9 | | | | | | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yu Tamura | | | | | | 22 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 10 | | 10 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 42 | 52 |
| Takeshi Kizu | | | | | | | 2 | 16 | 2 | | | | | | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Teruya Goto | | | | | | | 11 | | 14 | | | | 11 | 11 | | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Shinya Makabe | | | | | | | 19 | 19 | 4 | 19 | | | | | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yuhimaru Mimura | | | | | | | 20 | 7 | | | | | | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasutaka Sasakura | | | | | | | | 11 | 11 | | 23 | | 15 | | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Naohiro Kotaki | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harumichi Tatekawa | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | 12 | | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hitoshi Ono | | | | | | | | | | | 19 | 19 | | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rikiya Matsuda | | | | | | | | | | | | | 22 | 22 | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Koo Ji-won | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yuya Odo | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | – | 1 | – | 7 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 15 | 41 | 108 | 315 |
For each match, the player's squad number is shown. Starting players are numbered 1 to 15, while the replacements are numbered 16 to 23. If a replacement made an appearance in the match, it is indicated by . "App" refers to the number of appearances made by the player, "Try" to the number of tries scored by the player, "Kck" to the number of points scored via kicks (conversions, penalties or drop goals) and "Pts" refer to the total number of points scored by the player.