Sunwolves set for early exit from Super Rugby after likely exclusion from Australia's local competition

Japan bound Sunwolves are likely to face an early exit from Super Rugby after they are set to be excluded from the local domestic competition announced by Rugby Australia.

Sunwolves were originally part of the Australian Conference in the Super Rugby but were announced to be removed from the competition at the end of the 2020 season which is currently been disrupted by the pandemic coroanvirus.

Due to the financial loss involved, New Zealand and Australian boards have unveiled their local domestic competition that will be played between their respective domestic teams.

Western Force that was sacked from Super Rugby in 2017 is set to be involved in the upcoming tournament in Australia but Sunwolves are unlikely to be involved as the players need to undergo a compulsory 14-day quarantine which will create a logistical problem.

"Things are progressing really well with the Force but I think the international border restrictions are probably going to make it pretty hard for Japan," said Melbourne Rebels chief executive officer Baden Stephenson on Thursday.

"At one stage they were thinking about using their Australian and New Zealand players and some Japanese players but I think that the more they worked through the process the harder it is looking."