Rugby Union International Friendlies
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Established
First Recorded Event
2021-06-26
Current Season
2026
Current Round
Sport
RugbyLocation
Worldwide
Gender
Male
TV Rights
25 Apr 
Description
Rugby union international friendlies are otherwise known as test matches. A test match is an international match, usually played between two senior national teams, that is recognized as such by at least one of the teams' national governing bodies.
Some teams do not represent a single country but their international games are still considered test matches (for example the British and Irish Lions). Likewise some countries award caps for games between their full national teams and some invitation teams such as the Barbarians.
The July Tests, also known as the summer Tests or mid-year Tests, are international rugby union matches played around the month of July each year. They include traditional summer tours by European nations to countries in the southern hemisphere, North America or Japan, as well as shorter international trips and one-off test matches. They follow the end of the domestic rugby season for northern hemisphere countries.
The autumn internationals, November internationals, end-of-year tests, and spring internationals/tour for Australia and New Zealand, are men's rugby union Test matches that are contested around November each year. Teams from European national teams generally play at home against visiting teams from the Southern Hemisphere. Second-tier national teams, such as those from North American and Pacific countries also usually have games. Each team typically plays three or four Test matches, and visiting teams may also play games against non-national teams, such as provinces or clubs, as part of a tour. One of the major Southern Hemisphere teams (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or Argentina) often plays against the invitational Barbarians club in the traditional 'Final Challenge', usually at Twickenham in London.
Seasons
2026
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