The 2016 Wales rugby union tour of New Zealand was a

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

tour of New Zealand by the Wales national team in June 2016. The tour saw the Welsh side play four matches: three

test matches Test match in some sports refers to a sporting contest between national representative teams and may refer to: * Test cricket * Test match (indoor cricket) * Test match (rugby union) * Test match (rugby league) * Test match (association football) ...

against

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

and one match against the Chiefs of

Super Rugby Super Rugby is a men's professional rugby union club competition involving teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. It previously included teams from Argentina, Japan, and South Africa. Building on various Southern Hem ...

. In the history of matches between these two sides until this three-match test series, New Zealand has won 90% (27 matches) of encounters between them, with Wales' 10% (3 matches) all having occurred before 1954.

Fixtures

Squads

Note: Ages, caps and clubs are as per 18 June, the first test match of the tour.

Wales

On 10 May, Warren Gatland named a 35-man squad for their June 3-test series against

, pre-tour test against

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

and the mid week match against the Chiefs. On 29 May, after injury to Dan Lydiate in the England warm-up match, Ellis Jenkins was called up to the squad to replace Lydiate. On 7 June, Aaron Jarvis was called up to the squad as injury cover for Paul James. Jarvis later became a permanent replacement after James failed to recover from his injury. On 11 June, Aled Davies joined the squad as an injury replacement for Lloyd Williams. Following the first test, Keelan Giles and Rhys Patchell were called up to the squad as injury cover. Coaching team: * Head coach:

Warren Gatland Warren David Gatland (born 17 September 1963) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player who is currently in his second spell as the head coach of the Wales national team. As head coach of Wales from 2007 to 2019, he won four Six N ...

* Backs/attack coach:

Rob Howley Robert Howley (born 13 October 1970) is a Welsh former rugby union player and coach. As a player, he won 59 caps for Wales, 22 of them as captain. He was part of the Wales coaching team for many years. He is currently a coaching consultant for th ...

* Forwards coach:

Robin McBryde Robin Currie McBryde (born 3 July 1970), is a rugby union former player and coach. He gained 37 caps for Wales national rugby union team, Wales. He played hooker. Background McBryde was born in north Wales. He is a fluent Welsh language, Welsh ...

* Defence coach:

Shaun Edwards Shaun Edwards, OBE (born 17 October 1966) is an English rugby union coach and former rugby league player, who is the defence coach for the France national team. A or , Edwards is the most decorated player in rugby league history, with 37 wi ...

‡ – Denotes dual contracted players.

New Zealand

New Zealand's 32-man squad for the 2016 June international test series against

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

. Tom Franklin and TJ Perenara are also included as temporary injury cover for Sam Whitelock and Tawera Kerr-Barlow. On 31 May 2016, George Moala was called up to the squad as an injury replacement for Charlie Ngatai. Coaching team: * Head coach:

Steve Hansen Sir Stephen William Hansen and High Chief Of Vaiala, (born 7 May 1959) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. He is also the father of Black Ferns assistant coach, Whitney Hansen. He was the head coach of the New Zealand nati ...

* Attack coach: Ian Foster * Forwards coach: Mike Cron * Defence coach: Wayne Smith

Matches

Old Mutual Wealth Cup

Notes: *

Ollie Devoto Oliver Jonathan Devoto (born 22 September 1993) is an English rugby union player, who plays for Exeter Chiefs as a utility back primarily as a centre and fly-half. Early life Devoto was born in Yeovil, Somerset and grew up in Sherborne in Dors ...

Ellis Genge Ellis Genge (born 16 February 1995) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Premiership Rugby club Bristol Bears. He made his international debut for in 2016. Genge played 26 times for Bristol in a first spell bet ...

, Teimana Harrison and

Tommy Taylor Thomas Taylor (29 January 1932 – 6 February 1958) was an English footballer, who was known for his aerial ability. He was one of the eight Manchester United players who died in the Munich air disaster. Career Taylor was born in Smithies, ...

(all England) made their international debuts.

First Test

Notes: *

Alun Wyn Jones Alun Wyn Jones (born 19 September 1985) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for the Ospreys and the Wales national team. He is the world's most-capped rugby union player. Jones also holds the records for the most ...

became the fifth Welsh player to earn their 100th cap. *

Ardie Savea Ardie Suemalo Savea (born 14 October 1993) is a rugby union player who plays as a flanker or number 8 for in the ITM Cup, the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and international rugby for the New Zealand All Blacks. Savea was a member of New Zealan ...

and

Seta Tamanivalu Setareki Tamanivalu (born 23 July 1992) is a Fijian rugby union player and former All Black. He currently plays in the centre (and occasionally wing) position for Toshiba Brave Lupus. Early life Tamanivalu was born and raised in Fiji. He atte ...

(both New Zealand) and

Ellis Jenkins Ellis Jenkins (born 29 April 1993) is a Welsh rugby union flanker who currently plays for the Cardiff Rugby and for the Wales national team. Career Cardiff Rugby Jenkins made his debut for Cardiff in 2011 having previously played for their a ...

(Wales) made their international debuts. * There was no replacement issued for

George North George Philip North (born 13 April 1992) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays for the Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship and the Wales national team. He has also represented the British & Irish Lions and currently has th ...

when he was taken off injured at the end of the game, Wales played with 14 players.

Chiefs

Notes: *

was named to start, but was withdrawn from the team after failing to recover from injury and was replaced with Sam Warburton. * Bench players

Gareth Anscombe Gareth Anscombe is a rugby union player who plays for the Wales national rugby union team. He primarily plays at fly-half but can also play as a fullback. Anscombe, who currently plays for the Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship, is the s ...

and

Ross Moriarty Ross Moriarty (born 18 April 1994) is an international rugby union player, who currently plays for Dragons RFC and Wales as a flanker. Personal life Moriarty was born in St Helens, Merseyside while his father, former Wales international Paul ...

was pulled out of the team moments before kick-off due to injury and replaced by Taulupe Faletau and Jamie Roberts.

Second Test

Notes: *

Israel Dagg Israel Jamahl Akuhata Dagg (born 6 June 1988) is a former New Zealand rugby union player who played for the Crusaders in Super Rugby. He has also played for the New Zealand Sevens team, and represents Hawkes Bay in the ITM Cup. Dagg played in ...

and Ben Smith (New Zealand) earned their 50th test cap.

Third Test

Notes: *

Elliot Dixon Elliot Christopher Dixon (born 4 September 1989) is a professional rugby union player. He represents the Highlanders (rugby), Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition and Southland Rugby Football Union, Southland in the ITM Cup, playing at Rug ...

Liam Squire Liam Ivan John Squire (born 20 March 1991) is a former New Zealand rugby union player from Tokomaru, New Zealand. He played in the Number 8 and Blindside flanker position for Tasman in the Mitre 10 Cup. Squire joined the NTT DoCoMo Red Hurr ...

and Ofa Tu'ungafasi (all New Zealand) made their international debuts. *

Brodie Retallick Brodie Allan Retallick (born 31 May 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, who plays as a lock for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and is part of the squad for New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition. Retallick ...

and Aaron Smith (both New Zealand) earned their 50th test caps.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wales

2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses during the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh ...

2015–16 in Welsh rugby union 2016 rugby union tours 2016 in New Zealand rugby union

History of rugby union matches between New Zealand and Wales

Fixtures

Squads

Wales

New Zealand

Matches

Old Mutual Wealth Cup

First Test

Chiefs

Second Test

Third Test

See also

References