The Welsh Rugby Union has announced a schedule of Wales’ senior international fixtures and tours for the next nine years until 2019.
All the arrangements have been negotiated between the WRU and their opponents with the guidance of the International Rugby Board. Precise details of the locations, dates and kick off times for the games will be announced in due course through the WRU and will always appear on the official WRU website: www.wru.co.uk
The list provides a “roadmap” for supporters who want to know where Wales will be playing their rugby during the now traditional summer tour window – outside of the years when the Rugby World Cup will feature during the autumn.
On Rugby World Cup years, Wales will separately announce summer warm-up internationals, some of which will be played at the Millennium Stadium.
The confirmed annual destinations are:
- 2011 New Zealand – Rugby World Cup
- 2012 Australia
- 2013 Japan Tour (British and Irish Lions tour)
- 2014 South Africa
- 2015 UK Rugby World Cup
- 2016 New Zealand
- 2017 Pacific Islands (British and Irish Lions tour)
- 2018 Argentina
- 2019 Japan – Rugby World Cup
The tours in 2013 and in 2017 will involve players and coaches not selected for the British and Irish Lions tours.
The Group Chief Executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, Roger Lewis, said: “We have reached agreement on an exciting itinerary of Wales tours with fixtures against the best and most exciting nations playing the game today.
“Detailed advance planning is at the heart of our strategy to create long term sustainability for Welsh rugby both on and off the pitch. Our business has benefited greatly from this thinking. Our rolling five year financial and strategic plan reflects this.
“Creating such certainty allows us to negotiate effectively with our media and commercial partners. Most importantly this schedule allows the fans to consider following the team on tour. Our newly announced relationship with tour operator Thomas Cook will help this enormously.”
“There are mouth-watering opportunities for our supporters to head for Australia and New Zealand where Wales will match up against the top tier nations playing the game.
“I am delighted that Wales will be revisiting Japan and Argentina which have hosted some great Welsh international encounters in the past. Most importantly the team will get to experience Japan ahead of the Rugby World Cup in 2019.
“We want to take Wales and Welsh rugby to the world and this itinerary truly ensures that. We will be tested against the best teams around.
“Rugby is now a year-round game and Welsh fans are already renowned for following the game around the world to support the team.
“There is huge international competition to capture the best fixtures and I am delighted that here in Wales we have been able to achieve our scheduling aims so successfully.”
