Flying hell: 130 hours in the air for Sunwolves

Hitoshi Ono of the Sunwolves. Photo / Photosport.co.nz

The Sunwolves better have a good sponsorship deal with an airline because once again they are going to rack up some serious airpoints during the Super Rugby season.

The 2017 Super Rugby draw was released today and by the Herald's calculations, the Sunwolves will beat last season's effort of 113 hours in the air.

Next year they will spend an estimated 130 hours on a plane.

The latest draw has the Japanese franchise making two seperate trips to South Africa bookending a killer five week stretch which includes travel from Tokyo to New Zealand followed by a trip to Argentina.

The most probablmatic trip looks to be the Buenos Aires to Singapore leg following the side's round 11 clash against the Jaguares which could take anywhere beteen 20 hours and 34 hours, including a possible stopover in Auckland. The issue is they would have just been in New Zealand the week before.

The Sunwolves also play their penulatimate game in South Africa against the Stormers before having to make a 19-hour trek to Tokyo to face the Blues.

The Sunwolves won just one match in their debutant season finishing with 13 defeats and a draw.

Sunwolves draw and estimated flight times

Week 1 - v Hurricanes in Tokyo
Tokyo to Singapore - 7 hours
Week 2 - v Kings in Singapore
Singapore to Bloemfontein - 11 hours 33
Week 3 - v Cheetahs in Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein to Pretoria - 1 hour
Week 4 - v Bulls in Pretoria
Pretoria to Singapore - 11 hours, 15 minutes
Week 5 - v Stormers in Singapore
Singapore to Tokyo - 7 hours
BYE
Week 7 - v Bulls in Tokyo
Tokyo to Christchurch 12 hours
Week 8 - v Crusaders in Christchurch
Christchurch to Dunedin 1 hour
Week 9 - v Highlanders in TBC
Dunedin to Hamilton -1 hour 45
Week 10 v Chiefs in TBC
Auckland to Buenos Aires - 13 hours, 25
Week 11 - v Jaguares, Buenos Aires
BYE
Buenos Aires to Singapore 20 hours, 15
Week 13 - v Sharks, Singapore
Singapore to Tokyo - 7 hours
Week 14 - v Cheetahs, Tokyo
BYE
Tokyo to Johannesburg - 17 hours 20 mins
Week 15 - v Lions, Johannesburg
Johannesburg to Cape Town 2 hours
Week 16 - v Stormers, Cape Town
Cape Town to Tokyo - 18 hours, 50 mins
Week 17 - v Blues, Tokyo

Total: 130 hours