In June 2016,

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

played a three test series against

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

as part of the 2016 mid-year rugby union tests. It was the first time that Ireland had played a test series against South Africa in South Africa since

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 ...

. They played the Springboks across the three weeks that the June International window is allocated to; 11 June–25 June. The series was part of the fourth year of the global rugby calendar established by the

International Rugby Board 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 ...

, which ran through to 2019.

Fixtures

Squads

Note: Ages, caps and clubs are as per 11 June, the first test match of the tour.

Ireland

On 25 May 2016, Joe Schmidt announced his 32-man squad for Ireland's June test series against

. On 2 June, Luke Fitzgerald, Dave Kearney, Rob Kearney and Johnny Sexton were all ruled out of the tour after sustaining injuries in and after the Pro12 Grand Final. Craig Gilroy, Matt Healy, Ian Madigan and Tiernan O'Halloran were called up as their replacements. Coaching team: * Head coach: Joe Schmidt * Defence coach: Andy Farrell * Forwards coach:

Simon Easterby Simon Easterby (born 21 July 1975 in Harrogate, North Yorkshire) is an Irish former rugby union player. He is currently the defence coach for the Irish national team. Early life Easterby's father is English and his mother Irish. He is the you ...

South Africa

On 28 May 2016,

Allister Coetzee Allister Coetzee (born in Makhanda) is a South African rugby union coach and former player, currently in charge of the Namibian national team on a part time basis, whilst also head coach of Rugby Rovigo in Italy. He served as the head coach o ...

named his first squad since being appointed head coach. He included the following players in a 31-man squad for a three-test match series against the touring :

Pieter-Steph du Toit Pieter Stephanus du Toit (born 20 August 1992) is a South African professional rugby union player. Du Toit plays as a lock or a flanker for the South Africa national team and the in Japan Rugby League One. After winning the 2019 Rugby World ...

was initially named in the squad, but withdrew through injury and was replaced by

Franco Mostert Franco John Mostert (born 27 November 1990) is a South African professional rugby union player for Honda Heat and the South Africa national team. His usual position is lock. He was one of the members of the winning Springboks in the 2019 Rugby ...

on 31 May 2016. However, on 6 June, Du Toit was given the all-clear by the medical staff and returned to training with the squad. Centre

Jan Serfontein Jan Lodewyk Serfontein (born 15 April 1993) is a South African professional rugby union rugby player. He plays as a centre for French Top 14 side . Career Serfontein was a member of the South Africa under 20 team that won the 2012 IRB Junior ...

was ruled out for the entire series, but no replacement was named. Pat Lambie was ruled out of the second test match after suffering a concussion in the first test and being given a mandatory rest period in line with

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 ...

Return to Play Return may refer to: In business, economics, and finance * Return on investment (ROI), the financial gain after an expense. * Rate of return, the financial term for the profit or loss derived from an investment * Tax return, a blank document or t ...

protocol. On 13 June 2016,

Morné Steyn Morné Steyn (born 11 July 1984) is a South African rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for the Bulls and played for the South Africa national team, up until his retirement from international test rugby in October 2021. Steyn has won an ...

was called up to the squad as injury cover for Lambie. Coaching team: * Head coach:

* Backs coach: Mzwandile Stick * Forwards coach:

Johann van Graan Johann Christoffel van Graan (born 18 March 1980) is a South African rugby union coach, currently the head coach for Bath. Coaching career Van Graan did not have any top level playing career. With family background in rugby, he showed very s ...

* Assistant coach:

Matt Proudfoot Matthew Proudfoot (born 30 January 1972) is a South African rugby union coach and former player who represented Scotland. He is currently an assistant coach with the Namibia national team. He was an assistant coach with South Africa, winnin ...

Matches

First Test

Notes: * Faf de Klerk (South Africa) made his international debut. * This was Ireland's first ever victory over South Africa in South Africa.

Second Test

Notes: * Ruan Combrinck and

(both South Africa) and

Sean Reidy Sean Reidy (born 10 May 1989) is a New Zealand-born Irish rugby union player who played flanker for Ulster Rugby from 2014 to 2022, and has two caps for Ireland. Born in Auckland, New Zealand,Brendan Crossan"Century man Sean Reidy ready for Dr ...

and

Quinn Roux Quinn Roux (born 30 October 1990) is a rugby union player who plays for Bath in the Premiership Rugby and formerly the Ireland national team. Born in South Africa, he qualified for Ireland through residency, made his international debut in 20 ...

(Ireland) made their international debuts.

Third Test

Notes: *

Steven Kitshoff Steven Kitshoff (born 10 February 1992) is a South African rugby union rugby player. His playing position is loosehead prop. He represents the South Africa national team and the in the United Rugby Championship and previously Super Rugby, and ...

Jaco Kriel Jacobus Albertus Kriel (born 21 August 1989 in Standerton, South Africa) is a rugby union player for . He plays as a flanker. Kriel has also represented the University of Johannesburg in the Varsity Cup. He was the headboy of Hoërskool Stan ...

and

Bongi Mbonambi Mbongeni Theo 'Bongi' Mbonambi (born 7 January 1991) is a South African professional rugby union player, He currently plays as a hooker for the URC team and also the South Africa national rugby team. His position is hooker and he previously ...

(all South Africa) and

Matt Healy David James "Matt" Healy (born 16 July 1970) is an English actor born in Scotland. He is best known for his roles as Matthew King in ''Emmerdale'' from 2004 to 2008 and in ''The Bill'' as Alan Morton. Background When he was three years old ...

(Ireland) made their international debuts. *

Conor Murray Conor Murray (born 20 April 1989) is an Irish rugby union player who plays for Munster in the United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup. Internationally, Murray has represented Ireland and the British & Irish Lions, whom he ...

(Ireland) earned his 50th test cap. * This was

Eoin Reddan Eoin Reddan (born Limerick, Ireland, 20 November 1980) is an Irish rugby union player who plays at scrum half. He initially attended the Jesuit boarding school, Clongowes Wood, before moving school to Crescent College Comprehensive where he ...

's last international after announcing his retirement from the professional game.

Statistics

Key *Con: Conversions *Pen: Penalties *DG: Drop goals *Pts: Points

Ireland Statistics

Test series statistics

References

{{Rugby union tours of South Africa Ireland national rugby union team tours

Tour Tour or Tours may refer to: Travel * Tourism, travel for pleasure * Tour of duty, a period of time spent in military service * Campus tour, a journey through a college or university's campus * Guided tour, a journey through a location, directed ...

Ireland tour Ireland national rugby union team tours of South Africa