The 2021 end of year rugby union tests, also referred to as the Autumn internationals in the Northern Hemisphere, were

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 during October and November 2021, mainly involving countries from the Northern Hemisphere hosting those from the Southern Hemisphere. These international games counted 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 teams typically playing from two to four matches in this period. Matches hosted by teams from the

Six Nations Championship The Six Nations Championship (known as the Guinness Six Nations for sponsorship reasons) is an annual international men's rugby union competition between the teams of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. The current champions ar ...

were branded the Autumn Nations Series for marketing purposes.

Fixtures

23 October

Notes: *

Ben Gunter is a professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Japan Rugby League One club Saitama Wild Knights. Born in Thailand, he represents Japan at international level after qualifying on residency grounds. Early life Born in Thai ...

, Dylan Riley (both Japan) and Connal McInerney (Australia) made their international debuts. * Yoshitaka Tokunaga replaced

Michael Leitch is a Japanese rugby union player who plays in the back row for the Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan Rugby League One and captains the Japan national team. Leitch was born in New Zealand and moved to Japan as a teenager. Early life Leitch was ...

on the bench for Japan, after Leitch withdrew due to injury. ---- Notes: * Chad Gough, Ryan James,

Fakaʻosi Pifeleti Fakaʻosi Pifeleti (born 19 October 1996) is a United States rugby union player, currently playing for the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby (MLR) and the United States national team. His preferred position is prop. Professional career P ...

(all United States) and Josh Lord (New Zealand) made their international debuts. * New Zealand recorded their biggest win over the United States. * This was the United States' biggest-ever loss. * This was the first time New Zealand scored 100 or more points in multiple games in the same calendar year, having scored 102 against Tonga in

June June is the sixth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and is the second of four months to have a length of 30 days, and the third of five months to have a length of less than 31 days. June contains the summer solstice in ...

30 October

Notes: * Luke Crosbie, Jamie Dobie, Jamie Hodgson, Rufus McLean,

Pierre Schoeman Pierre Schoeman (born 7 May 1994 in Nelspruit, South Africa) is a Scotland international rugby union player. He plays for Edinburgh Rugby in the United Rugby Championship. His regular position is loosehead prop. Rugby Union career Youth caree ...

, Marshall Sykes,

Ross Thompson Ross Thompson may refer to: * Ross Thompson (boxer) * Ross Thompson (rugby union) * Ross Thompson (professor) See also * Ross Thomson, Scottish politician {{hndis, Thompson, Ross ...

, Sione Tuipulotu (all Scotland), Setefano Funaki, Navarre Haisila, Tanginoa Halaifonua, Atu Manu,

Maile Ngauamo Maile Ngauamo (born 15 August 1993 in Tonga) is a Tongan rugby union player who plays for the Brumbies in Super Rugby Super Rugby is a men's professional rugby union club competition involving teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the ...

, Loni Uhila and Vaea Vaea (all Tonga) made their international debuts. * Scotland recorded their biggest win over Tonga, surpassing the 36-point difference set during the

1995 Rugby World Cup The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country. The World Cup was the first major sporting event to take place in Sou ...

. * Kyle Steyn became the first Scottish player to score four tries at Murrayfield and the first since

Gavin Hastings Andrew Gavin Hastings, (born 3 January 1962) is a Scottish former rugby union player. A fullback, he is widely regarded to be one of the best ever Scottish rugby players and was one of the outstanding players of his generation, winning 61 c ...

against

Ivory Coast Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital is Yamoussoukro, in the centre of the country, while its largest city and economic centre is ...

at the

. * Tonga played at Murrayfield for the first time since 2001. ---- ---- Notes: *

Ken Owens Kenneth James Owens (born 3 January 1987) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a hooker for the Scarlets and Wales. He made his debut for the Scarlets in 2006, taking over from Matthew Rees as their first-choice hooker upon Rees' departu ...

(Wales) was named to start but withdrew shortly after the team announcement after failing a late fitness test;

Ryan Elias Ryan James Elias (born 7 January 1995) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a hooker for the Scarlets and the Wales national team. Club career Elias played youth rugby for Carmarthen Athletic, where his grandfather once served as clu ...

replaced Owens in the starting XV and

Kirby Myhill Kirby Myhill (born 5 February 1992) is a Welsh rugby union rugby player, who plays at hooker for the Miami Sharks in the MLR. Myhill begin his career with the Scarlets academy, and represented the team for six seasons before joining Cardiff R ...

took Elias's place on the bench. *

Alun Wyn Jones Alun Wyn Jones (born 19 September 1985) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a Rugby union/lock, lock for the Ospreys (rugby union), Ospreys and the Wales national rugby union team, Wales national team. He is List of rugby u ...

(Wales) earned his 149th test cap to become the most capped international player (excluding Lions tests), surpassing

Richie McCaw Richard Hugh McCaw (born 31 December 1980) is a retired New Zealand professional rugby union player. He captained the national team, the All Blacks, in 110 out of his 148 test matches, and won two Rugby World Cups. He has won the World Rugby ...

's record. *

(Wales) made his international debut. *

Beauden Barrett Beauden John Barrett (born 27 May 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays as a Fly-half (rugby union), First five-eighth (fly-half) and Fullback (rugby union), fullback for Taranaki Rugby Football Union, Taranaki in the Mitre 10 Cu ...

became the 11th New Zealand player to earn 100 test caps. * New Zealand's 54 points scored were the most they had scored away to Wales, and the 38-point margin equalled New Zealand's largest winning margin when away to Wales. ----

6/7 November

Notes: * Dan Sheehan (Ireland) made his international debut. * Jonathan Sexton became the seventh Ireland player to earn his 100th test cap. ---- Notes: * Ivan Nemer (Italy) made his international debut. * New Zealand broke the record for the most points scored in a calendar year (675), surpassing the 658 points scored by South Africa in 2007. ---- Notes: * Peter Nelson (Canada) was named to start but withdrew after the captain's run and was replaced by Robbie Povey, who was replaced on the bench by Lockie Kratz.

Tyler Rowland Tyler Rowland (born 16 October 1999) is a Canadian rugby union player, currently playing for the Toronto Arrows of Major League Rugby (MLR) and the Canadian national team. His preferred position is prop. Professional career Rowland signed for M ...

was also named on the bench but withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Foster DeWitt. * André Arrojado (Portugal) made his international debut. * This was Portugal's first win over Canada. ---- Notes: * Jerry Davoibaravi, Santiago Ovejero (both Spain),

Vilimoni Botitu Vilimoni Botitu (born 15 June 1998) is a Fijian professional rugby union player for Castres Olympique in the French Top 14 The Top 14 () is a professional rugby union club competition that is played in France. Created in 1892, the Top 14 ...

, Masivesi Dakuwaqa,

Henry Spring Sir Henry le Spring (died before 1311), also referred to as Lord Henry Spring, was an England, English knight and landowner in northern England. Biography He was born into the Anglo-Normans, Anglo-Norman Spring family, Le Spring family, who held ...

Aminiasi Tuimaba Aminiasi Tuimaba (born 26 March 1995) is a Fiji national rugby sevens team player. He plays the wing position. He is known for his speed and try scoring. He finished the 2018/19 season as the top try scorer for the Fiji Sevens team and the 2nd ...

and Jiuta Wainiqolo (all Fiji) made their international debuts. * Fiji became Spain's highest-ranked opponent at home since Spain hosted Australia in 2001. ---- Notes: *

Owen Farrell Owen Andrew Farrell (born 24 September 1991) is an English professional rugby union player, currently captain of Gallagher Premiership side Saracens. Farrell has played international rugby for England since 2012. Farrell is one of the top poi ...

was initially named to start at fly-half but was ruled out before the match after a positive COVID-19 test; George Furbank replaced Farrell at fly-half, and Mark Atkinson took Furbank's place among the replacements. * Mark Atkinson, Alex Mitchell (both England),

Solomone Kata Solomone Kata (born 3 December 1994) is a Tongan professional dual-code rugby player who plays as a wing for Gallagher Premiership club Leicester Tigers and the Tonga national team. Prior to rugby union, Kata played rugby league for the Ne ...

and Afusipa Taumoepeau (both Tonga) made their international debuts. *

Lopeti Timani Lopeti Timani (born 28 September 1990) is a Tongan professional rugby union player. His usual position is second row or number 8. After two seasons with the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby, he signed on to play for the Melbourne Rebels in 2014. H ...

(Tonga) made his Tongan international debut having previously represented Australia. ---- Notes: * WillGriff John and Bradley Roberts (Wales) made their international debuts. * South Africa won in Wales for the first time since 2013 and reclaimed the

Prince William Cup The Prince William Cup was created in 2007 by the Welsh Rugby Union and celebrates 100 years of rugby union history between Wales national rugby union team, Wales and South Africa national rugby union team, South Africa. It is named after the Vi ...

. ---- Notes: * Thibaud Flament (France) made his international debut. ---- ---- Notes: * Alexandru Alexe,

Tudor Butnariu Tudor Gabriel Butnariu (born 12 March 1995) is a Romanian rugby union player. He plays as a hooker for professional SuperLiga club Steaua București. Career Butnariu played during his career for Politehnica Iași from where he transferred t ...

, Damian Strătilă, Dorin Tică, Jason Tomane, Hinckley Vaovasa (all Romania) and Baltazar Amaya (Uruguay) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss (both Scotland) and Izaia Perese (Australia) made their international debuts. * Scotland retained the

Hopetoun Cup The Hopetoun Cup was established as a perpetual rugby union trophy between Australia and Scotland in 1998. In the spirit of the link between the two countries, it is named for John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun (1860–1908), a Scotsman, who, as the ...

. * Scotland won a third consecutive match against Australia for the first time since 1982. *

Romain Poite Romain Poite (born 14 September 1975) is a French former rugby union international referee. Poite retired in November 2021 after refereeing 72 tests, refereeing the third-most international tests in international rugby behind Nigel Owens (Wales) ...

retired from refereeing test rugby following this game

13/14 November

Notes: * Alessandro Fusco, Giovanni Pettinelli (both Italy) and Ignacio Calles (Argentina) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: *

Jesse Kriel Jesse André Kriel (born 15 February 1994) is a South African professional rugby union player for the South Africa national team and Canon Eagles in the Japanese Top League. His regular playing position is as a utility back but can also play ...

and

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 ...

(both South Africa) won their 50th caps. *

Stuart Hogg Stuart Hogg (born 24 June 1992) is a Scottish rugby union player who plays for Exeter Chiefs in the English Premiership and used to captain the Scottish national team. His playing positions are fullback and fly-half. Hogg has twice been nam ...

equalled

Ian Smith Ian Douglas Smith (8 April 1919 – 20 November 2007) was a Rhodesian politician, farmer, and fighter pilot who served as Prime Minister of Rhodesia (known as Southern Rhodesia until October 1964 and now known as Zimbabwe) from 1964 to ...

and

Tony Stanger Anthony George Stanger (born 14 May 1968) is a Scottish former international rugby union player. With 24 international tries, he was Scotland's joint record try scorer, along with Ian Smith, until that record was broken by Stuart Hogg in Novembe ...

's record as Scotland's all time top try scorer with 24 tries. ---- Notes: * Brock Webster (Canada) was named to start but withdrew before the game and was replaced by

Robbie Povey Robert Povey (born 21 September 1996) is an English-born Canadian rugby union player who plays as a flyhalf for the Utah Warriors in Major League Rugby (MLR). He played for the Prairie Wolf Pack in the Canadian Rugby Championship and Canada ...

, who was replaced on the bench by David Richard. * Michael Abrahams, Hugues Bastin, Toon Deceuninck, Henri Dequenne, Frédéric De Smet, Ian Dumez, Viktor Pazgrat, Basile Poupaert, Matias Remue, Hugo Ruelle, Basile Van Parys (all Belgium), Foster DeWitt, Isaac Olson and David Richard (all Canada) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * Henry Chavancy (French Barbarians) had been named to start but was replaced by Arthur Bonneval ahead of kick-off, with Alexandre Tchaptchet replacing Bonneval on the bench. ---- ---- Notes: * Geoffrey Moïse (Portugal) had been named on the bench but withdrew ahead of kick-off and replaced by André Arrojado. *

Warner Dearns is a Japanese rugby union player born in New Zealand who plays as a lock Lock(s) may refer to: Common meanings *Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance *Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit betw ...

and Shogo Nakano (both Japan) made their international debuts. * This was the first meeting between the two nations. ---- Notes: *

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 ...

was initially named to start but was ruled out before the match after a positive COVID-19 test; Bevan Rodd replaced Genge at loosehead, and Trevor Davison took Rodd's place among the replacements. *

Raffi Quirke Raffi Quirke (born 18 August 2001) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for Sale Sharks in the Premiership. Early life Raffi Quirke was born on 18 August 2001 in Chorlton. He started playing rugby when he w ...

, Bevan Rodd (both England) and Ollie Hoskins (Australia) made their international debuts. *

Maro Itoje Oghenemaro Miles "Maro" Itoje (born 28 October 1994) is an English professional rugby union player, who plays as a lock or as a blindside flanker for Gallagher Premiership club Saracens and the England national team. He signed his first pro ...

(England) won his 50th international cap. *

became the third England player to earn his 100th international cap; 94 for England and 6 for the

British & Irish Lions The British & Irish Lions is a rugby union team selected from players eligible for the national teams of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The Lions are a test side and most often select players who have already played for their national ...

. *

Jamie Blamire Jamie Blamire (born 22 December 1997) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Newcastle Falcons in Premiership Rugby. Early life Blamire was born in Seaton, Cumbria to parents Graeme, a conservatory builder and ...

became the first English forward to score a try in four consecutive matches. * England retained the

Cook Cup The Ella-Mobbs Trophy (formerly the Cook Cup from 1997–2021) is a rugby union trophy contested between Australia and England. The Cook Cup was established in 1997 when the Wallabies and England contracted to play each other bi-annually for a ...

. ---- Notes: * Henrique Ferreira, Kauã Guimarães, Pedro Henrique, Devon Müller, Gabriel Quirino (all Brazil),

Tapiwa Mafura Tapiwa Lloyd Mafura (born ) is a Zimbabwean-born rugby union player for South African sides the in the Pro14, the in the Currie Cup and the in the Rugby Challenge. His regular position is fullback or wing. Mafura made his Currie Cup T ...

, Victor Mapunga and Tapiwa Tsomondo (all Zimbabwe) made their international debuts. * This was the first meeting between the two sides. ---- Notes: * Matthis Lebel and Maxime Lucu (both France) made their international debuts. * This was the first time these two teams had met outside 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: * Danco Burger, Jayden Bussel, Lorenzo Louis, Gerhard Opperman, Herschell van Wyk (all Namibia) and Brian Wahinya (Kenya) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * Josh Adams and Tomas Francis were initially named to start but were ruled out before the match due to injury; WillGriff John replaced Francis at tighthead, and Nick Tompkins replaced Adams at outside centre; Dillon Lewis and Willis Halaholo replaced John and Tompkins on the bench. *

Christ Tshiunza Christ Tshiunza (born 9 January 2002) is a rugby union player who plays as a lock or flanker for Exeter Chiefs in the English Premiership. Tshiunza has represented Wales and Wales U20. Club career Born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of th ...

(Wales), Apisai Naqalevu and

Zuriel Togiatama Zurial Togiatama (born 3 February 1999) is a Fijian rugby union player who plays for Fijian Drua in the Super Rugby Super Rugby is a men's professional rugby union club competition involving teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and th ...

(both Fiji) made their international debuts.

20/21 November

Notes: * Robson Morais and Joel Ramírez (both Brazil) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * Ivan Chepraga (Russia) made his international debut. * This was Chile's first win over Russia. ---- Notes: * Dylan Richardson and

Javan Sebastian Javan Sebastian (born 27 September 1994) is a Scotland international rugby union player. He plays as a tighthead prop for the Scarlets. Club career Sebastian has played for Carmarthen Athletic, Llanelli RFC and Carmarthen Quins. Sebastian has ...

(both Scotland) made their international debuts. * Stuart Hogg became Scotland's all-time top try scorer, surpassing

and

's record of 24 tries. ---- Notes: * Pierre Bruno, Hame Faiva, Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara (all Italy), Juan Manuel Alonso and Mateo Viñals (both Uruguay) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * Chemigan Beukes (Namibia) made his international debut. * Namibia won the Stellenbosch Challenge Cup. ---- Notes: * This was the first draw between the two nations. ---- Notes: * Nic Dolly (England) made his international debut. ---- Notes: * Bogdan Doroftei, Sioeli Lama, Andrei Toader (all Romania) and Latu Latunipulu (Tonga) made their international debuts. * Ionuț Dumitru (Romania) earned his 50th test cap. ---- Notes: *

Lalakai Foketi Lalakai Foketi (born 22 December 1994) is an Australian rugby union player who currently plays as a centre for the in Super Rugby. Career Foketi first came to prominence in 2013 with some impressive displays while playing for the Manly Marl ...

(Australia) made his international debut. * Wales retained 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 ...

for the first time. * Wales won three consecutive matches against Australia for the first time since 1975. ---- Notes: * France regained the

Dave Gallaher Trophy The Dave Gallaher Trophy is a rugby union trophy contested between and . It is named after Dave Gallaher, the 1905–06 All Black captain who was killed in Belgium during World War I. History When it comes to rugby, France and New Zealand have a ...

. * This was France's first win over New Zealand since 2009. * This was France's first win over New Zealand on home soil since 2000. * France set a new record for their highest winning margin over the All Blacks. * France went undefeated in an Autumn internationals campaign for the first time since

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...

. * New Zealand's defeat meant this was the first time since November 2002 that South Africa, Australia and New Zealand had all been defeated on the same day. ---- ---- Notes: * Iain Henderson and Jack Conan (both Ireland) were both named to start, but withdrew ahead of the game and were replaced by Ryan Baird and

Peter O'Mahony Peter O'Mahony (born 17 September 1989) is an Irish rugby union player. He plays for Munster in the United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup and Ireland internationally. During his career, O'Mahony has captained Presentatio ...

, with Doris moving to Number 8.

Nick Timoney Nick Timoney (born 1 August 1995) is an Irish rugby union player, who plays in the back row for Ulster and Ireland. He is regarded as a "hybrid" player, an athletic forward with the pace of a back.Facundo Cordero (Argentina) made his international debut. * Ireland scored their most points against Argentina and set a new record for their largest winning margin over the Pumas. *

Tomás Lavanini Tomás Lavanini (born 22 January 1993) is an Argentine rugby union player who plays as a second row for ASM Clermont Auvergne in France's Top 14. He previously played for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby and the Argentine Super Rug ...

(Argentina) became the first player to be shown three red cards in his international career.

26/27 November

Notes: * Gleb Farkov, Bogdan Kireev, Pavel Kirillov, Kirill Panarin, Viktor Telnov (all Russia), Lukas Carvallo, Diego Escobar and Santiago Pedrero (all Chile) made their international debuts. * This was Chile's biggest winning margin over Russia. ----

Notes

References

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

2021 File:2021 collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: the James Webb Space Telescope was launched in 2021; Protesters in Yangon, Myanmar following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, coup d'état; A civil demonstration against the October–November 2021 ...

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 ...