MIKE RUDDOCK’S OPENING SEVEN TESTS
SUMMER TOUR : 12 June – Argentina v Wales (Tucaman), 19 June – Argentina v Wales (Buenos Aires), 26 June – South Africa v Wales (Pretoria)
WALES AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL TEST SERIES
6 November – Wales v South Africa, 13 November – Wales v Romania, 20 November – Wales v New Zealand, 27 November – Wales v Japan
Previous Autumn Series
2003 – Rugby World Cup, 2002 – Romania, Fiji, Canada, New Zealand, 2001 – Romania, Argentina, Tonga, Australia, 2000 – Samoa, USA, South Africa, 1999 – Rugby World Cup,
1998 – South Africa (Wembley), Argentina (Stradey Park), 1997 – Tonga (St Helen’s), New Zealand (Wembley), 1996 – Australia, South Africa, 1995 – Fiji, 1994 – Italy, South Africa
1993 – Japan, Canada, 1992 – Australia
Springboks Back At Millennium Stadium
Mike Ruddock’s Welsh team will get a double-dose of SANZA action in the Autumn when the Springboks join Graham Henry’s All Blacks in visiting the Millennium Stadium.
The new Wales National Coach will get his first taste of Test action in June when he takes his team to Argentina for two games against the Pumas and then to South Africa for a clash with the Springboks in Pretoria.
And now he will only have to wait until 6 November for his first home game after the WRU agreed with their South African counterparts to host an extra fixture in Cardiff ahead of the three scheduled matches against Romania, New Zealand and Japan.
It means Wales will play seven capped internationals and one non-Test in the first six months of Ruddock’s reign, including five fixtures against teams ranked above Wales in the IRB World Rankings.
“The only way we will improve as a rugby playing nation is if we have regular contact with the top teams in the world. By playing the Springboks and Argentina twice and the All Blacks ahead of the 2005 RBS Six Nations Championship we will have every chance of continuing the development that was so apparent under Steve Hansen,” said Ruddock.
“This extra fixture is a real bonus and will give all of us, coaches and players alike, the chance to assess ourselves against the best teams in the world.
“We already have an incredibly challenging summer tour ahead of us with two Tests in Argentina and one in South Africa. Now we have a wonderfully balanced Autumn Series to look forward to at the Millennium Stadium.”
The Springboks will return to Wales five years and four months on from when they helped open the Millennium Stadium in such memorable style. On that day Rob Howley’s Welsh side notched a first win over the South Africans.
“This will be the first time since 1996 that Wales will face two SANZA nations in the Autumn International period. Eight years ago we met Australia and South Africa in December, but this will be a first for Welsh fans at the Millennium Stadium,” said WRU Chief Executive David Moffett.
“The four match series will provide Mike Ruddock, his players and the Welsh fans with a fantastic month of challenging action. It is vitally important that the Welsh players test themselves against the best in the world and by bringing both the All Blacks and the Springboks to the Millennium Stadium we believe we are giving them the perfect opportunity to improve.”
