Sunwolves

Super Rugby will return to a 14-team full round-robin competition in 2021, with Japanese side the Sunwolves to no longer be involved after next season.

The reported axing of the Sunwolves from Super Rugby has come as a surprise to a coach of a team who have played the Japanese side already this season.

First-five Hayden Parker nailed a drop goal almost four minutes after the siren to give the Sunwolves a thrilling 26-23 Super Rugby win over South Africa's Stormers in Hong Kong.

The Blues have become the first New Zealand Super franchise to fall to Japan's Sunwolves with the Auckland team comprehensively beaten 48 - 21 in Tokyo.

Livewire fullback Damian McKenzie scored a brace of tries as the Waikato Chiefs held off a dogged Sunwolves in Hamilton on Saturday.

The Crusaders' Manasa Mataele scored three tries as they celebrated Wyatt Crockett's record Super Rugby appearance with a 50-3 victory over the Sunwolves in Christchurch.

The Japan Sunwolves didn't get the Super Rugby debut they were looking for, going down 26-13 to the Lions in front of a sold-out Tokyo crowd.

Two New Zealand rugby coaches are set to be confirmed in positions in Japan this week.

Japan Rugby has confirmed the name of its Super Rugby team for the 2016 season.