2018 Mid-year Rugby Union Internationals
The 2018 mid-year rugby union internationals (also known as the summer internationals in the Northern Hemisphere) are international rugby union matches that are mostly played in the Southern Hemisphere during the June international window. The matches are part of World Rugby's global rugby calendar (2012–19) that includes test matches between touring Northern Hemisphere nations and home Southern Hemisphere nations. In addition, the global calendar gives Tier 2 nations the opportunity to play Tier 1 nations outside the November International Window, increasing competitiveness from the Tier 2 sides ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Series Fixtures 27 May Notes: * This is the first time since 2014 the Barbarians had defeated England. 31 May 2 June Notes: * Tomos Williams (Wales) and Robert du Preez, Thomas du Toit, André Esterhuizen, Travis Ismaiel, Jason Jenkins, Makazole Mapimpi, Ox Nché, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Marvin Orie, Embrose Papier, Kwagga Smith, Akker van de ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of Earth that is north of the Equator. For other planets in the Solar System, north is defined as being in the same celestial hemisphere relative to the invariable plane of the solar system as Earth's North Pole. Owing to Earth's axial tilt of 23.439281°, winter in the Northern Hemisphere lasts from the December solstice (typically December 21 UTC) to the March equinox (typically March 20 UTC), while summer lasts from the June solstice through to the September equinox (typically on 23 September UTC). The dates vary each year due to the difference between the calendar year and the astronomical year. Within the Northern Hemisphere, oceanic currents can change the weather patterns that affect many factors within the north coast. Such events include El Niño–Southern Oscillation. Trade winds blow from east to west just above the equator. The winds pull surface water with them, creating currents, which flow westward due to the Coriolis e ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Zach Mercer
Zach Mercer (born 28 June 1997) is an English rugby union player who plays as a number eight or a flanker for Montpellier in the Top 14. Early life Mercer was born in Leeds and grew up near Halifax. He played junior rugby for Old Brodleians. At the age of eight he moved with his family to Scotland. In Scotland he attended Netherlee Primary School and Williamwood High School in Glasgow. He left at the end of his third year and then he attended Merchiston Castle School and played for Glasgow Hutchesons Aloysians. Club career Whilst living in Scotland, Mercer was a member of the Glasgow Warriors academy. In 2015, Mercer joined Bath. In September 2016, Mercer made his club debut in a Premiership fixture against the Newcastle Falcons. In February 2021 it was confirmed that Mercer would join French Top 14 side Montpellier ahead of the 2021–22 season. On 30 August 2022, it was confirmed that Mercer would return to England to rejoin the Premiership Rugby with Gloucester on a ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Mathieu Raynal
Mathieu Raynal (born 9 August 1981) is a professional rugby union referee. He officiates at the highest level in the Top 14, European club rugby, and is on the World Rugby referee panel. In 2012, he broke his two legs in two places after getting too close to the action. He is regarded for being an extremely technical referee, often making decisions regardless of the impact of the game. This was notable in two offside calls in the England vs New Zealand All Blacks test on the 20th November which an offside offence was called for each side regardless of the play impact. Playing career Raynal was born in Perpignan, France, and played for USA Perpignan and was part of the successful 1998 Junior Perpignan team that won the Junior Championships in France. He joined a local referees society in 2001, while representing the first XV from the University of Perpignan in 2001. Refereeing career By the age of 25, Raynal had officiated at amateur rugby matches in the Fédérale 3, Fédérale ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for two millennia. The City of London, its ancient core and financial centre, was founded by the Romans as '' Londinium'' and retains its medieval boundaries.See also: Independent city § National capitals The City of Westminster, to the west of the City of London, has for centuries hosted the national government and parliament. Since the 19th century, the name "London" has also referred to the metropolis around this core, historically split between the counties of Middlesex, Essex, Surrey, Kent, and Hertfordshire, which largely comprises Greater London, governed by the Greater London Authority.The Greater London Authority consists of the Mayor of London and the London Assembly. The London Mayor is distinguished fr ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium () in Twickenham, south-west London, England, is a rugby union stadium owned by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), English rugby union governing body, which has its headquarters there. The England national rugby union team plays home matches at the stadium. It is the world‘s largest rugby union stadium, the second largest in the United Kingdom, behind Wembley Stadium, and the fourth largest in Europe. The Middlesex Sevens, Premiership Rugby fixtures, Anglo-Welsh Cup matches, the Varsity Match between Oxford and Cambridge universities and European Rugby Champions Cup games have been played at Twickenham Stadium. It has also been used as the venue for rugby league Challenge Cup finals and American football, as part of the NFL London Games in 2016 and 2017. Twickenham Stadium has hosted concerts by Rihanna, Iron Maiden, Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, Genesis, U2, Beyoncé, The Rolling Stones, The Police, Eagles, R.E.M., Eminem, Lady Gaga, and Metallica. Overview T ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe
Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (born 19 November 1981 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine rugby union footballer. He currently plays for Toulon in the French Top 14, having moved from Sale Sharks in England's Guinness Premiership. He previously played for Liceo Naval. He usually plays in the back row. He made his debut for the Sale Sharks in 2006 against the Leicester Tigers. His debut season for the Sharks was the 2006–07 Guinness Premiership. He was Sale's first XV captain. He made his international debut for Argentina in 2004 against Uruguay. He was a part of the Pumas team that defeated Wales at home in a two Test series, scoring a try in one game. Fernández Lobbe featured in the side that defeated England at Twickenham in November 2006 as well as back to back victories over Ireland the following year. And he was an integral part of the Los Pumas team in their 2007 Rugby World Cup campaign which succeeded in gaining Argentina's highest World Cup finish of third place. He pla ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Greig Laidlaw
Greig Laidlaw (born 12 October 1985) is a Scotland, Scottish professional rugby union player. He plays as a Scrum-half (rugby union), scrum-half and as a Fly-half (rugby union), fly-half for NTT Communications Shining Arcs, Shining Arcs. Laidlaw holds the record for most caps as captain, 39, of the Scotland national rugby union team, Scottish national team. He also represented the British & Irish Lions in 2017. Although Laidlaw is a scrum half, he is often used as the first-choice goal kicker by his teams. Laidlaw has scored over 700 points for Scotland in his career and is one of the highest points scorers in rugby union history. Early life A nephew of Scotland scrum half Roy Laidlaw, he joined Edinburgh Rugby, Edinburgh in the summer of 2006. His first-team opportunities were limited at first behind Scotland scrum half Mike Blair, but in 2010 he signed a new two-year contract. Laidlaw's earlier representative rugby included games for Borders under-16 and under-18 as well as Sc ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Sitaleki Timani
Sitaleki Timani (born 19 September 1986), is a Tongan-born, Australian professional rugby union footballer. He made his test debut for the Wallabies in 2011. His usual position is lock. Timani's professional club career spanned eight seasons of Top 14 in France and seven seasons of Super Rugby in Australia. He currently plays for the RC Toulonnais in the Top 14. Family and early life Sitaleki Timani was born in the Tongan village of Kolonga. His brothers Sione and Lopeti are both international rugby players. Timani played soccer until he attended Liahona High School and was introduced to rugby union. He was selected for the Tongan Schoolboys rugby team in 2003, and won a scholarship to attend Auckland Grammar School in New Zealand. He moved to Australia at the age of 19 and switched codes, playing rugby league for Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL's Jersey Flegg competition in 2006, and in NSW Premier League in 2007. Rugby union career In August 2007, Timani returned ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Semi Radradra
Semi Radradra Turagasoli Waqavatu (born 13 June 1992) is a Fijian professional rugby union and rugby league footballer. He currently plays rugby union for the English club Bristol Bears and the Fiji national team. Nicknamed 'Semi Trailer', Radradra has played primarily as a wing in both codes. He played for Fiji in sevens (rugby union) in 2011, then began his professional career playing rugby league for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League. He played international rugby league for Fiji and Australia. He is a rare dual-code double international as he has played international rugby league for 2 nations as well as playing international rugby union for Fiji. He changed codes from rugby league to rugby union when he transferred to French club Toulon in 2017, before moving to Bordeaux Bègles in 2018. He made his international debut for Fiji in 2018 and played in the 2019 Rugby World Cup. On 27 November 2019, it was announced he would be joining Bristol Bears ahe ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Finn Russell
Finn Alastair Russell (born 23 September 1992) is a Scottish professional rugby union player who primarily plays fly-half for Racing 92 in the Top 14. He has also represented Scotland at international level, having made his test debut against the United States during the 2014 Summer Internationals. Russell has previously played for the British & Irish Lions during their tours of New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa in 2021, gaining a Test cap during the latter. Early life and education Russell was born into a sporting family. His father played a lot of racket sports, and worked in sports administration, including as Director of Domestic Rugby for the Scottish Rugby Union. His grandparents were international badminton players, his uncle and great-grandfather played Cricket for Scotland and his brothers are also noted rugby players. Russell started playing rugby in Wallace High School in Stirling. Russell did not feel drawn to academic work. After secondary school, he pursued ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Victor Vito (rugby Union)
Victor Vasefanua Junior Vito (born 27 March 1987) is a New Zealand former rugby player and All Black who last played blindside flanker for French team La Rochelle. He was a star of New Zealand Sevens, and captained the 2006 New Zealand Under 19 Rugby team. Also in 2006 Vito was nominated for the IRB Under 19 Player of the Year Award. He is a key member of 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup winning teams, becoming one of only 21 players who have won the Rugby World Cup on multiple occasions. Vito attended the Wellington private school, Scots College, where he played for the 1st XV and was a boarder. While playing rugby in New Zealand, Vito was a member of amateur rugby Marist St Pats in Wellington, and was a prominent player in the 2009 Wellington Lions The Wellington Rugby Football Union (known as the Wellington Lions for competition reasons) are a New Zealand governing body of rugby union in the New Zealand province of Wellington Region. The main stadium is Sky Stadium ( ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Chris Ashton
Christopher John Ashton (born 29 March 1987) is an English rugby union and former rugby league player, and one of the few players who have represented England in both rugby codes. A wing or fullback, he joined Leicester Tigers of Premiership Rugby in February 2022. Ashton first played as a or for Wigan Warriors in rugby league's Super League competition, and won four caps for England in 2006 and 2007. In 2007 Ashton signed for Northampton Saints in rugby union's Premiership, before moving to Saracens in 2012, Toulon in 2017, Sale in 2018 and Harlequins in 2020. He made his debut for England in March 2010 and played regularly until 2014, including in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, where he finished as the tournament's joint leading try-scorer. After a break of four years, he was recalled to the England squad in November 2018. He won 40 caps for England. In April 2022 he became the record try scorer in Premiership Rugby after scoring a hat trick against Bristol to take him to 95 ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |