Unprecedented: November Tests
The IRB has announced a Series that will see an extensive programme of competitive games for Tier Two and Three nations during November 2012.
The matches, which feature twelve IRB Strategic Investment Unions are in addition to the Tier One v Tier Two fixtures within the tours and test schedule approved by the IRB Council in 2010.
Following Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand, many of the teams are now going through a period of rebuilding with several new players and coaches coming into the squads as they look towards RWC 2015 in England.
Russia, USA, Samoa, Canada, Tonga, Fiji, Romania, Japan, Uruguay, Portugal, Georgia and Chile will all be in action with the three Pacific Island teams facing up against top level teams.
The announcement further underlines the IRB's commitment to an expanded annual calendar for Tier Two teams and builds on similar schedules in place during previous seasons. One of the highlights of this busy programme of international fixtures will take place in Colwyn Bay, Wales, with a mini tournament being played over two match days with some mouth-watering fixtures arranged, including Russia v USA and Samoa v Canada.
Other highlights include England v Fiji in London, Wales v Samoa in Cardiff, Canada v Maori All Blacks in Oxford, France v Samoa in Paris, Scotland v Tonga in Aberdeen and Uruguay v Portugal in Montevideo.
"This is an exciting development for the global Game. The IRB is committed to facilitating an annual international competition schedule for our Tier Two Unions and these matches will be crucial to ensuring that there is increased competitiveness on the global stage and at Rugby World Cup 2015," said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.
"There will be an unprecedented number of international fixtures across Europe in November, which will give sports fans a taste of what to expect in 2015 when England hosts the world's top 20 nations for Rugby World Cup."
IRB Head of Development and Performance Mark Egan added: "The November fixtures will play a significant role in the continued development of those Unions that have been identified for high performance support as part of our annual GBP10million Strategic Investment Programme. With an eye on Rugby World Cup 2015, coaches will be looking to assess their players in a competitive test match environment and the IRB will have the opportunity to benchmark the progress of the top ranked Tier Two Unions against both each other and in the case of the Pacific Island Unions, against Tier One opposition."
"The November Tier Two test match programme compliments our portfolio of stand-alone strategic investment tournaments in June such as the Pacific Nations Cup, Nations Cup and the Americas Rugby Championship, which takes place in Canada in October. We are particularly excited about the double-header IRB International Rugby Series matches which will take place in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, on November 9 and 17 and the historic first-time visits of Japan and Fiji to Georgia."
With thanks to the IRB
Comments
melkdave says...
@MDCU2584
Thats a very good idea double header weekends a teir 2 match 1st ,followed by a teir 1 match.It would certinally make for a good day out.Hopefully the idea will take off in the near future ,annother idea would be a teir 1 V teir 2 match first off ,but that would mean extending the international window i expect,and the calander is rather packed even now .But hey if/when they ever get a global schedual sorted who knows.
Posted 19:00 04th November 2012
excitationz says...
PREEST : The USA has been playing rugby for well over a hundred years... popularity-wise it's 'maybe' starting to gain in that area, as I know American youth is starting to play the game earlier, but until the USA starts to beat their friendly neighbours to the north on a regular basis, a 'good' American squad taking on NZ and keeping it close is still a few generations away.
Posted 06:52 20th October 2012
MDCU2584 says...
I don't know how the finances would stack up, but would it not be better off getting the Tier 2 games played as warm ups for the Tier 1 games? It would benefit the players as they might not be so overawed when it comes to packed statdia in world cups, but would also get them in front of more fans? At least I assume more fans would see them at Twickenham/Millenium Stadium/Aviva/Murrayfield etc than at Colwyn Bay, and they would therefore get a bigger hand with their finances?
Posted 13:43 20th September 2012
startledwombat says...
Well done IRB. That's a fortune in airfares and accommodation. Hopefully it's covered by TV rights and is an annual event for (non-World Cup) years to come.
Posted 11:35 20th September 2012
PREEST says...
I cannot wait for the time when it is no longer just 3 or maybe 4 possible teams that can win the world cup! Rugby is certainly gaining in popularity! The USA would be a force to reckon with if they invest in rugby and the popularity rises. Too bad the already have NFL. New Zealand against a good USA side would be awsome.
Posted 10:48 20th September 2012
GoWalesGo says...
Lol
Russia v USA and Samoa v Canada at Colwyn Bay. Which genius though that up, and who is realistically going to watch it.
Apparently the USA game was supposed to be in London, and USA rugby were going to hold a fund raiser because of the large amounts of American expats there, now they can't do that. All because the WRU and IRB want to "develop" rugby in North Wales, absolutely mind boggling. You would think that USA rugby is more important than North Wales...
Posted 10:45 20th September 2012
bigb6969 says...
I like the idea, would love to see the ABs put in a mid-week test on tour v a tier 2 country. Problem is NZ could really set back rugby with 100 point thrashings, but it would look good for our stats. Although and 85% success rate in 21st century, playing the other 2 teams in the top 3 you can't get much better than that
Posted 09:52 20th September 2012
PTplayer says...
Great news! Long overdue.
Posted 09:47 20th September 2012
Scrumpoacher says...
That is the best bit of news I've seen on here for ages! Well done IRB! Just need it televised...
Posted 09:34 20th September 2012
TVaddict says...
Excellent!
Posted 23:42 19th September 2012
rakavi187 says...
definitely excellent news for the Pac-3 teams...
Well done IRB, been a long time coming.
Posted 23:20 19th September 2012
Maubec says...
Yes. Excellent news.
In my opinion, SH Tiers 1 teams should meet two NH Tiers 1 and at least 1 NH Tiers 2 teams on each November.
And in July, NH Tiers 1 teams should meet 2 times the same SH Tiers 1 and at least 1 SH Tiers 2.
That's the way to enhance Tiers 2 teams and make this sport even more interesting : actually only 5 teams can really compete for the world champion title.
Ans only 6 more can really make the 1/4 or more.
What a tournament it could be with 16 teams able to make the 1/4 !
In 2011, we saw tiers 2 teams lasting 60' against tiers 1 teams in a lot of matchs but only one upset with Tonga's win over France.
If those Tiers 2 teams can compete against Tiers 1 more often, there will be more upsets and suspense and greater RWCs.
Posted 23:17 19th September 2012
OldAlex says...
Great that the second level are being supported but a bit unfair to the others in Europe's First division, i.e. Spain and Belgium, who will be at a disadvantage while these games will rev up their opponents !!
Posted 20:45 19th September 2012
Kawasakifreak says...
Well done IRB.
I hope resources exist to maintain this new game structure over the long term.
Posted 19:19 19th September 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
I'd never schedule a warm up for a series of tests with a game vs Samoa. Last test is better and then i would take out my key players.
Posted 19:03 19th September 2012
APV1 says...
Great news. And Colwyn Bay isn't too far away for a good weekend's entertainment.
Posted 18:19 19th September 2012
HenryFitz says...
Excellent news. Lapasset is delivering on some of his promises, at least. Argentina are an example of what Samoa, Fiji and Tonga might achieve if exposed to regular high-level competition.
Posted 17:53 19th September 2012