kankowski japan move article,,,

The Sharks have released eighthman Ryan Kankowski on a six month deal to Top League Rugby Union team, Toyota Verblitz club in Aichi, Japan.

The twenty-six-year-old has been allowed the release on a sabbatical basis not unlike Dan Carter's time with Perpignan.

Kankowski will join the Japanese club from 6 August 2012 until 16 February 2013, allowing him to be back in Durban, to rejoin The Sharks for their 2013 Super Rugby campaign.

The Springbok joined the Sharks in 2006, making his debut in the black and white jersey during the Currie Cup season against the Lions.

Before leaving for Japan, Kankowski will feature in the Springboks final Test against England at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, coming off the bench and providing cover as a loose forward.

The Sharks CEO, Brian van Zyl added, "We wish him the best of luck in Japan and look forward to welcoming him back to Durban upon completing his playing commitments in Japan, when he will continue to represent The Sharks with distinction."

Meanwhile there have been rumours that Bulls centre Wynand Olivier will also take a sabbatical in Japan but this has not yet been confirmed.

reading this article i noticed that kankowski has signed to play with toyota verblitz, this is the same club that jerome kaino has sigend on to play for.

how good is this really for the japanese rugby??? u have kaino and kankowski there and both will obviously be starting, while some poor japanese dude will be fighting tooth and nail for the other two positions.

its probably great for the club and its fans to have these players, but bad for japanese rugby as whole IMO.
 

I agree 100% man. But what I find even more mysterious is what players like Kanko and Kaino gain from it? Yes obviously they get paid, but as far as playing experience goes, what is the point? My last question is, how does a small and relatively insignificant  rugby playing nation have the money to lure players like Jaque Fourie, Kanko , Kaino, Fourie Du Preez and many others? Surely they don't get the kind of crowds and viewers that the SANZAR nations do, so where does the money come from? It can't be sponserhip, because surely they don't get the exopsure from rugby that they get from other sports, so it is not in corporate sponsors best interest...... I don't know, the whole thing is just a complete puzzle to me. 

Very rich nation. Jaque got R20 million for 2 years "work". Must be some interest there.

 The average weight in the Japanese rugby is 55 kg. However with all the foreigners entering it is becoming more competitive. I could go their a few years ago and be like Jonu Lomu- it will take about 10 of them to bring me down.

It is only the Sumu Wresler props that are tough, and they cant catch me. 

I really don't think it that bad for sport as a whole and as long as the team has a small foreign presence the team should actually benefit.

I have been fortunate enough to experience this type of… well let’s call it what it is; “buying talent” in a sporting environment. It had a massive impact on our team not only from an on the field presence, but from a training point of view the skills and drills and mentality, that was shared help us progress long after the player had left. As long as these things are controlled and the team is not gaining a massive advantage, like drafting in 10 players, it will benefit the sport in Japan.

More spectators for the foreign players, the host team “will” improve and thus the opposition teams will improve. This will all work together to improve Rugby in Japan.