Back operation for Joseph

Jamie Joseph
Jamie Joseph
Former Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph will not coach the Sunwolves for the rest of the season.

He has returned home to have a procedure on his back.

The Sunwolves, who have three games left in the season, will be coached by another former Highlanders coach in Tony Brown.

The Sunwolves released a statement yesterday saying in order for Joseph, who also coaches Japan, to be fully focused on national team's World Cup preparation, he will take this opportunity to undertake a routine operation on his back over the next two months.

This will enable him to make a full recovery in time to prepare for the November test series and will provide Brown another opportunity to lead the Sunwolves.

''Though it was a very tough decision for me not to accompany the Sunwolves for the last three matches of the season, I had to think of what was best for the greater goal of Japanese rugby,'' Joseph said.

'' The team will be in the very capable hands of Tony Brown and our support staff and I will look forward to continue to monitor their progress till the end of the Super Rugby season for 2018.''

Joseph and Brown took over the coaching of the Sunwolves this season along with the coaching of the national side.

The Sunwolves have won just two games this season and have games left against the Bulls, Waratahs and Reds

The Japanese national side had a successful June series. It beat Italy 34-17 in the first test before going down 25-22 to Italy in the second test.

The team had a convincing 28-0 win over Georgia last Saturday.

Japan is set to play the All Blacks in Tokyo and England at Twickenham in the November test window.

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