2012 mid-year rugby test series

The 2012 mid-year rugby Test series (also known as the Summer Tours in the Northern Hemisphere) refers to the rugby union Internationals that will be played through June, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere.

For Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the Tests constitute preparation for the 2012 Rugby Championship.

This series marks the start of a global playing calendar, running through 2019, established by the International Rugby Board. The calendar includes a return of traditional tours by European teams, in which a team plays multiple Tests against a southern side, often with midweek matches against provincial or regional sides. This year, all three of the teams that competed in the Rugby Championship's predecessor tournament, the Tri Nations, will host nations in three-Test series. Australia hosts Wales, marking the first three-Test series in Australia by a top European side since the Lions' 2001 tour.[1] New Zealand is hosting Ireland in the first three-Test tour of that country since the Lions visited in 2005; it is also Ireland's first-ever three-Test series against the All Blacks.[2] South Africa hosts England for three Tests, the first extended tour of that country by a single nation since New Zealand toured in 1996.[3]

Contents

Matches

Week 1

5 June 2012
 Australia  v  Scotland Ausgrid Stadium, Newcastle
9 June 2012
 Argentina  v  Italy TBA, Argentina
9 June 2012
 Australia  v  Wales Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
9 June 2012
 New Zealand  v  Ireland Eden Park, Auckland
9 June 2012
 South Africa  v  England Mr Price Kings Park, Durban

Week 2

16 June 2012
 Argentina  v  France TBA, Argentina
16 June 2012
 Australia  v  Wales Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
16 June 2012
 New Zealand  v  Ireland Rugby League Park, Christchurch
16 June 2012
 South Africa  v  England Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg

Week 3

23 June 2012
 Argentina  v  France TBA, Argentina
23 June 2012
 Australia  v  Wales Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
23 June 2012
 New Zealand  v  Ireland Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
23 June 2012
 South Africa  v  England Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

See also

References

  1. ^ "Wallabies confirm dates with Wales and Scotland". ESPN Scrum. 4 November 2011. http://www.espnscrum.com/australia/rugby/story/153602.html. Retrieved 11 November 2011. 
  2. ^ "Ireland to play three Tests in New Zealand in 2012 as old-style Tours make welcome return". dailymail.co.uk. 24 May 2010. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-1280825/Ireland-play-Tests-New-Zealand-2012-old-style-Tours-make-welcome-return.html. Retrieved 11 November 2011. 
  3. ^ "England book three-Test series with Boks". ESPN Scrum. 19 May 2010. http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/story/115847.html. Retrieved 11 November 2011. 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3194026.stm