Wales to face Boks and Wallabies in November
Wales will face Scotland, Australia, Tonga and South Africa at the Principality Stadium in their November internationals, it has been confirmed.
Head coach Warren Gatland’s side will begin their final international season leading into the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan by hosting Scotland on Saturday 3rd November, with the Wallabies, Tonga and the Springboks set to follow on consecutive Saturdays in the month.
Scotland will be the first tier one northern hemisphere side to visit the Welsh capital for an autumn fixture since the first four-match series was played out in 2001 and the fixture will also contest the ‘Doddie Weir Cup’ – created in honour of, and to raise money for, the charity of the former Scotland and British & Irish Lions lock who is suffering from Motor Neurone Disease.
Wales have regularly faced the top southern hemisphere sides in the autumn Test window with Australia now on their 13th trip just tipping New Zealand (10) for the most visits to Cardiff in that time – South Africa will make their ninth appearance, with Argentina on five, to date.
Tonga will make their third appearance in the series in Cardiff, but, of the tier two nations Fiji have been the most prolific visitors, matching the Pumas’ five – Romania and Canada have made three appearances, Samoa and Japan two, with the Pacific Islands and Georgia (last year) completing the set with a visit each.
When the Scots kick-off the 2018 campaign it will be another first for Welsh rugby and a chance for an autumn audience to sample a fixture which carries 134 years of history with it.
“We are particularly pleased to be able to give supporters the opportunity to attend a Scotland game,” said WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips.
“Tickets for this game are like gold dust during the six nations and we very much hope that this fixture gives supporters, who might not normally get the chance to see a Wales face Scotland in an international, the opportunity to experience the unique atmosphere created against our near neighbours and friends.
“The game carries with it years of tradition and rivalry which should appeal to rugby supporters across both countries and we will be encouraging a range of fixtures across the community game to reflect the history of our two great rugby nations.
“We will provide a new ‘Doddie Weir Cup’, with related contributions made to the ‘My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’, which will be played for whenever the two sides meet in Cardiff.”
He added: “The 2017 Under Armour Series was a resounding success for Welsh rugby with around a quarter-of-a-million supporters turning out to cheer Wales on at Principality Stadium.
“We will continue to look for innovative ways of maximising the appeal of these matches for Welsh and visiting supporters alike and believe that our 124th meeting with Scotland could be the first of an exciting new brand of fixtures for the autumn campaign.”
The Scots haven’t won in Cardiff since the 2002 Six Nations (22-27), the only other time the two sides have met outside of the Six or Five Nations Championship, in the 135 history of the fixture, was a summer friendly game in Cardiff in August 2003, which Wales won 23-9.
2018 Wales November Series:
Wales v Scotland, Saturday 3rd November
Wales v Australia, Saturday 10th November
Wales v Tonga, Saturday 17th November
Wales v South Africa, Saturday 24th November