Suntory decided it wasn’t worth the risk - Anscombe

Welsh World Cup star Gareth Anscombe has opened up on his disappointment at Suntory Sungoliath cancelling his registration after he underwent groin surgery.

Anscombe, 32, came off the bench at the World Cup to kick 23 points against Australia and won Player of The Match.

After Wales condemned Eddie Jones’ Australia to a record defeat, Anscombe picked up a groin injury warming up against Georgia and the severity of the damage was far greater than first thought.

The former Osprey and Cardiff fly-half appeared on the inaugural podcast of Sportin Wales, a magazine and website he founded with former club and international teammate Alex Cuthbert, to discuss what led to his registration being cancelled by the club in December.

“At the time when I did it in that warm-up the plan was to hopefully rehab it and try and get right for the semi-final,” said Anscombe who was believed to have been recommended to Suntory by their consultant Eddie Jones who has since returned as the Brave Blossoms head coach.

“Disaster struck with us and we lost to Argentina which we didn’t see coming but from a fitness point of view we didn’t think it was too serious.

“Just before I left for Japan I tried to kick as we thought I’d be able to and I felt my abductor tweak again and it wasn’t until I got to Japan when I had a scan and met the Suntory team in a camp and had to wait a few days until the results.

“I spoke to the physio and he said I’d pulled my abductor off the bone and that was surprising but also really unusual.

“I flew back to the UK and went under the knife in London and due to the contract nature the club decided we had to part ways which is really unfortunate.”

Suntory has since signed 35-year-old Argentine veteran Nicolás Sánchez to fill the void left by Anscombe but he is yet to feature this season with Japanese youngster Mikiya Takamoto having a breakout season at fly-half.  

“What people won’t know is your classed in three categories as a player in Japan,” added the utility back who has won 37 caps for Wales.

“Category A is for players who can play for Japan, B is from all over the world but you haven’t played for a country, so if you’re in Japan long enough you can qualify for them and then there’s C which myself, Liam Williams, Beauden Barrett and all those types who have played international rugby come under.

“Each season you can only play two category C players at a time. Once I was injured they decided it wasn’t worth the risk and decided to get another international.

“They had done it previously when Sean McMahon, who recently did his ACL, was pulled out for the season and they signed Sam Cane during the World Cup and he’s just there for the season.

Anscombe was scheduled to face international teammate Liam Williams in the season opener in December as Suntory played defending champions Kubota Spears but ultimately neither Welsh back featured.

“Unfortunately Suntory decided to go in a different way which is upsetting and frustrating but you understand the nature of the game. I was hoping I could be back around February.” Despite his immense disappointment and only being in Japan for two and a half weeks, Anscombe only has positive things to say about the club and country.

“It’s just really unfortunate what happened, they have a great setup, the boys were awesome. I would love to play in Japan but right now all the clubs are focusing on their seasons so I’ll just wait and see.” Anscombe is itching to get back playing but admits he still doesn’t know where that will be. “I’m trying to get back to full fitness and I’m desperate to play rugby but where that is I’m not too sure. I hope to bet fit in the next couple of months and we’ll see what’s out there.”

Anscombe remains listed on the Suntory website. For more on Sportin Wales visit sportin.wales