SUNWOLVESDELIGHTEDTHEKIDSWITHTHEIRSURPRISEAPPEARANCE

PhotoCaption:SUNWOLVESplayersEdQuirk,ShinyaMakabe,RyujiNoguchiandNikolozKhatiashvilitakingagrouppicturewiththechildrenattheendofthetrainingsessionwith

CentaursRugby,SpartansRugbyaswellasJapaneseAssociation,Singapore.

Morephotoscanbedownloadedhere:https://bit.ly/2MxPM6KPhotocredit:SingaporeSportsHub

SINGAPORE,30JUNE2018–TheHITO-CommunicationsSUNWOLVESarebackintownthisweekforthehighly-anticipatedSuperRugbymatchagainsttheBULLS.Someplayersjoinedinakid’strainingsessionthismorningatCentaursAstroPitch,TurfCity,aheadofthebiggametonight.Morethan100children,agedbetween9to13,attendedthesessionandhadtheopportunitytogetupcloseandpersonalwiththeplayersforsomerugbyfundamentals,fundrills,andplayingtouchrugby.Thechildrenwhoparticipatedinthesessionwerefromvariousrugbyclubs and associations, including Centaurs Rugby, Spartans Rugby as well as JapaneseAssociation,Singapore.SUNWOLVESplayersEdwardQuirk,ShinyaMakabe,RyujiNoguchiandNikolozKhatiashviliexpressed theirdelightat thisopportunity togiveback to thecommunityandshare theirknowledgewiththeyoungergenerationattheirtrainingsession.

SUNWOLVESLockShinyaMakabesaid,“IwasquitesurprisedatthenumberofkidsplayingrugbyinSingapore,andbelievethesporthasthepotentialtogrowevenmore.ThekidsheretodayseemmoreactiveandinteractivethantheonesinJapan,whoaresometimesquiteshy,andIhadareallygreattimewiththem.”“I’mreallybigoncommunityrugby,becausewithoutthesupportoftheparentsandthekidsplayingrugby,theglobalgamehigherupdoesn’treallywork.Singaporehasbackedusalotinrugbythepastthreeyears,soit’salwaysgoodtogivebacktothem,andcommunityrugby,”sharedSUNWOLVESflankerEdwardQuirk.“Ialwaysjusttellthekidstohavefunandenjoyit,andkeepthefriendshipstheyhavehere.Thegreatthingaboutthegameisit’saglobalthing–youneverknowwhoyou’regoingtomeet.”AlvinChan,fatherof11-year-oldElliotwhoplaysfortheSpartans,said,“IreallyappreciatetheSUNWOLVESplayersdoingthisfortheboys.Theydidn’thavetodothis,andit’squiteatreatfortheboystoknowthatthey’remeetingsomeonewho’splayingprofessionally,whotheymayhaveseenonthescreeniftheyfollowSuperRugby.”NickDance,Centaurs’DirectorofRugby,shared,“Ithinkthekidshadagreattime.It’sgreattogetthreedifferentclubshereintegratingintoone,withtheSUNWOLVESplayerscomingdown,playingsometouchandgivingsomeoftheirtipsonthegame.Fantastictoseethem,andIthinkeveryonereallyenjoyedit.”SinceadoptingSingaporeastheirhomebasein2016,theSUNWOLVEShasbeenconductingkid’srugbyclinicswhenevertheyareintownforamatch.Thisinitiativewasstartedwiththegoalofallowingyoungrugbyenthusiaststomeettherugbystarsinpersonandreceivefirsthandtrainingfromworld-classrugbyplayers.

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STARTINGLINEUPSSUNWOLVES:https://sunwolves.or.jp/en/information/article/6755/BULLS:http://thebulls.co.za/news/pollard-to-lead-vodacom-bulls-against-sunwolves-in-singapore/ABOUTSUPERRUGBY

Super Rugby is the Southern Hemisphere's pre-eminent rugby tournament, featuring 15teamsfromAustralia,NewZealand,SouthAfrica,ArgentinaandJapan.

In 2016, the evolution of Super Rugby continuedwith three new sides introduced to anexpanded four-conferencemodel thatboosts the rivalryandpassionofprevious seasons,drivingSuperRugbyintoanexcitingnewera.TheKingsfromSouthAfricareturnedtothefray,alongwithnewteams–theJaguaresfromArgentina;andtheHITO-CommunicationsSUNWOLVESfromJapan.

This2018SuperRugbyseason,the18-teamcompetitionrevertstoa15-teamcompetition,consistingofthreegeographicalconferences–theAustralianconference,theNewZealandconferenceandtheSouthAfricanconference.GonefromthecompetitionweretheForce(Australia),KingsandCheetahs(SouthAfrica).TheJaguaresremainedinthenowoneSouthAfricanConferencewhiletheSUNWOLVESmovedfromoneoftheAfricanconferencestotheAustralianconference,withfourotherAustralianteams.

• AustralianConference:Brumbies,Rebels,Reds,Waratahs,Sunwolves• NewZealandConference:Blues,Chiefs,Crusaders,Highlanders,Hurricanes• SouthAfricanConference:Bulls,Lions,Sharks,Stormers,Jaguares

ABOUTTHEHITO-COMMUNICATIONSSUNWOLVES

TheHITO-CommunicationsSUNWOLVESmadetheirdebutinthe2016SuperRugbyseasonand is the first Asian team in Super Rugby. Co-based in both Japan and Singapore,SUNWOLVESwillbeplayingatotalof16matches–eighthomeandeightawaygames–andoneoftheirhomematcheswillbeplayedattheSingaporeNationalStadiumon30June2018,Saturday,againsttheBULLS.

ABOUTSINGAPORESPORTSHUBTheSingaporeSportsHubisafullyintegratedsports,entertainmentandlifestylehub,withprogrammingthatranges fromrecreational tocompetitive, fromcommunity to international, toservethechildren,youth,workingadults,seniors,families,andlessprivilegedpopulationsegmentsinSingaporeandtourismsectors.Consistingofauniqueclusterdevelopmentofworld-classsportsfacilitieswithinthecity,itplaysacriticalrole in accelerating the development of Singapore’s sports industry, excellence and participation. Itsvisionistobetheregion’spremiersports,entertainmentandlifestyledestination.Locatedona35-hectaresiteinKallang,theSingaporeSportsHubincludesthefollowingfacilities:

• A new 55,000-capacity National Stadiumwith a retractable roof andmovable tiered seatingdesignedtohostFootball,Rugby,Athletics,Cricket,entertainmentevents,andmanymore

• The11,000-capacityiconicSingaporeIndoorStadiumforsportsandentertainmentevents• A6,000-capacityOCBCAquaticCentrethatcanhostinternationaleventsandpublicswims• A3,000-capacityOCBCArenawithsixhallsthatarescalableandflexibleinlayout• WaterSportsCentrefeaturingkayaking,canoeing,dragonboating,andpedalboating• 41,000sqmKallangWaveMall,includingindoorclimbingwall• Splash-N-SurffacilityfeaturingtheKidsWaterPlayground,StingrayandLazyRiver• 100PLUSPromenadethatencirclestheNationalStadium• SingaporeSportsMuseumandSingaporeYouthOlympicGamesMuseum• ShimanoCyclingWorld• SportsHubLibrary• Dailycommunityfacilitiesandactivities,includingbeachvolleyball,hardcourts(futsal,basketball

andnetball),lawnbowls,giantchess,skateparkandrunning&cyclingpaths• Largewaterfrontandprecinctspaces(e.g.OCBCSquare,ArenaPark,StadiumRoar)

TheSingaporeSportsHub,managedbySportsHubPteLtd,isoneofthelargestPublic-PrivatePartnership(PPP)socialinfrastructureprojectsintheworld.ItisalsoSingapore'slargestflagshipPPPprojectofthisnature,andhaswontheProjectFinanceInternational(PFI)awardinLondonin2011,WorldArchitectureFestival Awards for Best Future Project in the leisure-led development category in 2013, and SportsBuildingoftheYearin2014.Formoreinformation,pleasevisittheSingaporeSportsHub:§ Website:www.sportshub.com.sg§ Facebook:sporesportshub§ Twitter:@sgsportshub§ Instagram:sgsportshub

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