The 2018 end of year rugby union tests, also referred to as the Autumn internationals in the Northern Hemisphere, were a number of

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 ...

test matches played during October and November, primarily involving countries from the Northern Hemisphere hosting those from the Southern Hemisphere. Also involved in matches are those from second-tier teams. These international games count towards

World Rugby World Rugby is the world governing body for the sport of rugby union. World Rugby organises the Rugby World Cup every four years, the sport's most recognised and most profitable competition. It also organises a number of other international rug ...

's ranking system, with a team typically playing from two to four matches during this period.

Matches

October

---- Notes: *

Sonny Bill Williams Sonny Bill Williams (born 3 August 1985) is a New Zealand heavyweight boxer, and a former professional rugby league and rugby union player and as of recently is working for Stan Sports. He is only the List of dual-code rugby internationals#New ...

(New Zealand) earned his 50th test cap. *

Sekope Kepu Sekope Kepu (born 5 February 1986) is an Australian professional rugby union player. He is a prop and currently plays for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He has previously played for Australian club New South Wales Waratahs, the French club Borde ...

(Australia) became the ninth Australian to earn his 100th test cap and the first in his position for his country. * New Zealand completed a 3-0 whitewashing of Australia for the first time since 2016.

2/3 November

Notes: *

Hiroshi Yamashita Hiroshi Yamashita (born 1 January 1986) is a Japanese people, Japanese rugby union player. He was named in Japan's squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and in Super Rugby from 2016. References External links Top League Profile in Japanese lang ...

(Japan) earned his 50th test cap. * Jamie Henry, Isileli Nakajima (both Japan),

George Bridge George Crispin Bridge (born 1 April 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as an outside back for in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and for the in the international Super Rugby competition. Bridge made his inte ...

Brett Cameron Brett Donald Cameron (born 4 October 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player. A first five-eighth, Cameron plays for at a provincial level and the in the Super Rugby competition. He made his debut for the New Zealand national side, the All ...

, Mitchell Drummond, Gareth Evans,

Dillon Hunt Dillon Hunt (born 23 February 1995) is a New Zealand former rugby union player who played for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition. His position of choice was flanker. Career Hunt was called into the Highlanders squad in 2017 as an ...

Tyrel Lomax Tyrel Shae Lomax (born 16 March 1996) is an Australian born New Zealand rugby union player who plays for in the Bunnings NPC and the in the Super Rugby. His regular playing position is prop. He is the son of former New Zealand (Kiwis) rugby ...

, Dalton Papalii and Matt Proctor (all New Zealand) made their international debuts. * New Zealand gave debuts to eight players, their highest number since 1986 when 11 players debuted against

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. * Japan's 31 points was their highest score against New Zealand, surpassing the 17 points scored in 1995. ---- ---- Notes: * Jarrod Evans,

Luke Morgan Luke Morgan is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Gary Lucy. He was introduced by the show's creator Phil Redmond as part of the Morgan family, and made his first appearance on 29 March 1999. The ...

(both Wales) and

Darcy Graham Darcy Graham (born 21 June 1997) is a Scottish professional rugby union player who currently plays for Edinburgh Rugby and Scotland national team as a winger and fullback. Rugby union career Amateur career Graham played for Hawick Rugby ...

(Scotland) made their international debuts. * Wales won the first ever contest of the Doddie Weir Cup. * Wales won their opening 'Autumn Internationals' match for the first time since beating

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

40–3 in

2002 File:2002 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 2002 Winter Olympics are held in Salt Lake City; Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her daughter Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon die; East Timor gains East Timor independence, indepe ...

, and they gained their first opening win at the Millennium Stadium since beating

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono Island, Manono an ...

50–6 in 2000. ---- Notes: *

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 ...

and Ben Moon (both England) made their international debuts. * With this win and the 25–10 victory in June 2018, England won back-to-back matches against South Africa for the first time since their November

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...

and

2006 File:2006 Events Collage V1.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2006 Winter Olympics open in Turin; Twitter is founded and launched by Jack Dorsey; The Nintendo Wii is released; Montenegro 2006 Montenegrin independence referendum, votes to declare ...

victories. ---- Notes: *

Ross Byrne Ross Byrne is an Irish rugby union player. He plays as fly-half. Byrne currently plays for Irish provincial team Leinster. On 24 October 2018, Byrne was named in the Ireland squad for the November Internationals. In November 2022 Byrne kicked ...

Will Addison William Joseph Addison (born 20 August 1992) is an English-born Irish rugby union player who plays as a utility back for Ulster in the United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup, and internationally for Ireland. A product of ...

(both Ireland), Jimmy Tuivaiti and

Johan Meyer Johann Heinrich Casper Meyer (also known as Johan and John Henry Casper Meyer) (??-1901) was a Germans, German immigrant to Queensland and a Settler, pioneer of the Gold Coast, Queensland, Gold Coast region. Johan Meyer arrived in Australia fr ...

(both Italy) made their international debuts. ----

5–10 November

Notes: * Roman Khodin, Dmitry Perov, Daniil Potikhanov (all Russia), Janry du Toit, Prince ǃGaoseb and Adriaan Ludick (all Namibia) made their international debuts. *

Yuri Kushnarev Yuri Viktorovich Kushnarev (born 6 June 1985) is a former Russian rugby union player. He played as a fullback and/or as a fly-half. Kushnarev is the most capped Russian player as well as the top scorer for Russia. Having played over one-hundred an ...

became the first Russian player to earn 100 caps. * Evgeny Matveev (Russia) earned his 50th test cap. * This was the first meeting between the two nations hosted by Russia. ---- Notes: * This was the first meeting between the two nations since 2003. * Zurab Dzneladze (Georgia) made his international debut. ---- Notes: * Sam Skinner (Scotland), Mesulame Dolokoto and Setariki Tuicuvu (both Fiji) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * New Zealand retained the

Hillary Shield The Hillary Shield is contested between England and New Zealand at rugby union. The first match was played on 29 November 2008 at Twickenham Stadium, London. The trophy is named in memory of the New Zealand mountaineer and explorer, Sir Edmund Hi ...

. ---- ---- Notes: * This was Wales' first win over Australia since their 21–18 victory in 2008, ending a 13-match winning streak for Australia over the Welsh, to claim the

James Bevan Trophy The James Bevan Trophy is a rugby union trophy which was created in 2007, and named after James Bevan, the Welsh Australian who was the first ever captain of the Wales rugby union team in 1881. The trophy was established after a decision on 10 May ...

. ---- Notes: *

David Ainuu David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

Devereaux Ferris Devereaux St Bruno Ferris (born October 24, 1994) is a New Zealand-born, American rugby union player who plays at scrum-half for the Seattle Seawolvesin Major League Rugby (MLR). He also represents America as a member of the United States men ...

, Gannon Moore (all United States), Raymond Niuia and Ben Nee-Nee (both Samoa) made their international debuts. * This was the United States' first win over Samoa, winning their first test against a Pacific Nation since May 1999. ---- Notes: *

Joaquín Díaz Bonilla Joaquín Díaz Bonilla (born 12 April 1989) is an Argentine rugby union player. His position is fly-half and plays for Old Glory DC of Major League Rugby (MLR) in the U.S. He was part of the national Argentina team, ''The Pumas''. Bonilla pl ...

, Rodrigo Bruni and Lucio Sordoni (all Argentina) made their international debuts. * Ireland retained the

Admiral Brown Cup The Admiral William Brown Cup (in es, Copa Almirante Brown) is an international rugby union competition contested between and . It was first held on 16 November 2012 at the Aviva Stadium. The trophy is named after Admiral William Brown, the Iri ...

. ---- ---- ---- Notes: * This was the first match played by the Māori All Blacks in South America since touring Argentina in 1988. * Matteo Dell’Acqua and Devon Müller (both Brazil) made their international debuts.

16/17 November

Notes: * Tudor Boldor, Marius Iftimiciuc, Alexandru Savin (all Romania) and

Nick Boyer Nicklas Swain Boyer (born July 17, 1993) is an American rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for the Houston SaberCats of Major League Rugby (MLR) and the United States men's national team. Boyer has also represented the United State ...

(United States) made their international debuts. * With this win, and Italy's loss to Australia, USA move to 13th on the

World Rugby Rankings The World Rugby Rankings (formerly the IRB Rankings) is a ranking system for national teams in rugby union, managed by World Rugby, the sport's governing body. There are separate men's and women's rankings. The teams of World Rugby's member nation ...

, their highest ever position. * The United States reclaim the Pershing Cup, who had held it since the teams' previous meeting in 2016. ---- Notes: *

Manuel Ardao Manuel Ardao Ferres (born 9 September 1998) is a Uruguayan rugby union player who generally plays as a flanker, he plays for Peñarol in the Super Rugby Americas, he represents Uruguay internationally. Career Old Christians Club Ardao be ...

, Guillermo Pujadas (both Uruguay) and

Eroni Sau Eroni Sau (born 5 February 1990), nicknamed "The Sledgehammer", is a Fijian rugby union player currently playing for the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby Early life and career Sau hails from the village of Nabukeru Yasawa and attended Yasawa High ...

(Fiji) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: *

Jake Gordon Jake Gordon (born 6 July 1993) is an Australian rugby union player who plays for Super Rugby franchise New South Wales Waratahs, and the Wallabies. Early life Born in Sydney, Jake grew up in Newtown, New South Wales where he first start ...

(Australia) made his international debut. ---- Notes: *

Tedo Abzhandadze Tedo Abzhandadze (born 13 June 1999) is a Georgian rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Montauban Montauban (, ; oc, Montalban ) is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department, region of Occitania, Southern France. It is the c ...

, Beka Gigashvili and Guram Gogichashvili (all Georgia) made their international debuts. * Tamaz Mchedlidze (Georgia) earned his 50th test cap. ---- Notes: *

Jonah Holmes Jonah Holmes (born 24 July 1992 in Stockport, England) is a rugby union winger who currently plays for Ealing Trailfinders in the RFU Championship and former player for . Early life Holmes was born in Stockport, England. He played junior ...

(Wales) and

Maʻafu Fia Ma'afu Fia (born 22 November 1989) is a Tongan International rugby union prop who most recently played rugby for Ospreys in the URC, having previously represented the Highlanders in Super Rugby. Early life Fia was born in Tonga and moved to ...

(Tonga) made their international debuts. * Liam Williams (Wales) earned his 50th test cap. * This was Wales' biggest winning margin over Tonga, surpassing the 44-point difference set in 2001. ---- Notes: * Mickael de Marco, Tobias Francis, Lucas Levy, Lucas Rubio,

Richard Stewart Richard Stewart (born 1959) is the mayor for the city of Coquitlam, British Columbia. He was elected to Coquitlam City Council in 2005, and became mayor in 2008. Personal life He was married in 1983 to Anna Rosa, they have four children. Stewa ...

(all Spain), Jason Benade, Henrique Olivier,

Chad Plato Chad Zavier Plato (born 21 April 1998) is a Namibian rugby union player who generally plays as a fullback represents Namibia internationally. He was included in the Namibian squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup which is held in Japan for the fir ...

and Wihan von Wielligh (all Namibia) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * Joe Cokanasiga and Ted Hill (both England) made their international debuts. * George Ford (England) earned his 50th test cap. * This was the first meeting between the two teams to be held in England, and outside of a

Rugby World Cup The Rugby World Cup is a men's rugby union tournament contested every four years between the top international teams. The tournament is administered by World Rugby, the sport's international governing body. The winners are awarded the Webb E ...

. ---- ---- Notes: * Augusto Böhme, Tomás Contreras and

Marcelo Torrealba Marcelo Diego Torrealba Otero (born 6 May 1996) is a Chilean professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for Super Rugby Americas club Selknam Selknam or Selk'nam may refer to: *Selk'nam people The Selk'nam, also known as t ...

(all Chile) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * This was Ireland's first home win over New Zealand. ---- Notes: * Mathieu Bastareaud, Rabah Slimani (both France),

Julián Montoya Julián Montoya (born 29 October 1993) is an Argentine rugby union player currently playing for the Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby, the top domestic level of rugby union. He plays as a hooker. Montoya played for Club Newman dome ...

and

Javier Ortega Desio Javier Ortega Desio (born 14 June 1990) is an Argentine rugby union player who plays as a loose forward for the Argentine Super Rugby side , and the Argentina national rugby union team. Career Ortega Desio started out his professional caree ...

(both Argentina) earned their 50th test caps.

24 November

---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----

1 December

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rugby Union, End-of-year

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

End-of-year rugby union internationals The autumn internationals, November internationals, end-of-year tests, and spring internationals/tour for Australia and New Zealand, are men's rugby union Test matches that are contested around November each year. It is organised by World Rugby. Te ...

October 2018 sports events in Asia October 2018 sports events in Europe November 2018 sports events in Europe November 2018 sports events in South America December 2018 sports events in Europe