Jamie Joseph steps down as Sunwolves coach

Japan head coach Jamie Joseph has confirmed that he will step down as in charge of Super Rugby club Sunwolves to focus on the 2019 World Cup.

The 48-year-old has been associated with the Brave Blossoms since 2016 and took the additional responsibility of Sunwolves in 2017 but now with a year left for the showpiece event which will be hosted by Japan, Joseph decided to focus on the national set up.

Even though he won't be coaching Sunwolves in the 2019 edition of Super Rugby, Joseph confirmed that he will be involved in the process of appointing his successor.

“I won’t be coaching the Sunwolves next year, but I will be involved in appointing the coaches,” he told Kyodo Times.

“Next year we need to be peaking in September, certainly not February when the Super Rugby competition starts.

“You can expect a number of our players will not be participating at the start of the Super Rugby competition with the Sunwolves, but they will start a bit later in the season.”

Sunwolves endured a tough last two seasons of Super Rugby where they finished at the bottom of the conference.