The 2022 end of year rugby union tests, also known as the 2022 Autumn internationals, 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 the months of October and November. Some of the games were known as the Autumn Nations Series for marketing purposes. Also involved in matches were some 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.

Fixtures

October

Notes: * Syuhei Takeuchi and Kenji Shimokawa (both Japan) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: *

Jack Dempsey William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey (June 24, 1895 – May 31, 1983), nicknamed Kid Blackie and The Manassa Mauler, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1914 to 1927, and reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926. ...

(Scotland), Jock Campbell and

Langi Gleeson Langi Gleeson is an Australian rugby union player who plays for the in Super Rugby and Australia national team. His playing position is flanker or number 8. He was named in the Waratahs squad for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season as a wi ...

(both Australia) made their international debuts. * Australia recorded their first test victory over Scotland since November 2016, following three consecutive wins for the Scots, thus reclaiming 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 ...

4/5/6 November

---- Notes: * Atila Septar (Romania) and Joaquín Milesi (Chile) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * Lorenzo Cannone, Enrico Lucchin (both Italy), Brian Alainu'uese, Tala Gray, Duncan Paia'aua, Taleni Seu and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (all Samoa) made their international debuts. *

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

recorded their biggest ever victory over

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 ...

. ---- Notes: *

Murphy Walker Murphy Walker (born 25 October 1999) is a Scotland international rugby union player who plays for Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship. He can play both sides of the scrum, but is more usually found at tighthead. Rugby union career ...

(Scotland), Sireli Maqala, Livai Natave and Ratu Leone Rotuisolia (all Fiji) made their international debuts. *

Manasa Saulo Manasa Saulo, (born 6 April 1989) is a Fiji professional Rugby union footballer. Saulo was selected to the Fijian National squad for the first time 2012 and has gone on to play in two Rugby World Cups. Saulo plays at Tighthead Prop currently f ...

(Fiji) earned his 50th test cap. ---- Notes: *

Rio Dyer Rio Dyer (born 21 December 1999) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who primarily plays wing for Dragons in the United Rugby Championship. He has also represented Wales at international level, having made his test debut against New Ze ...

and Sam Costelow (both Wales) made their international debuts. * Aaron Smith (New Zealand) earned his 113th test cap, surpassing

Dan Carter Daniel William Carter (born 5 March 1982) is a retired New Zealand rugby union player. Carter played for Crusaders (Super Rugby) in New Zealand and played for New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks. He is the highest point scorer in ...

as the most-capped back in All Blacks history. * Ofa Tu'ungafasi (New Zealand) earned his 50th test cap. * Referee

Wayne Barnes Wayne Barnes (born 20 April 1979) is an English international rugby union referee and barrister. He is a regular referee in the English Premiership, and has refereed games in the Heineken Cup and the European Challenge Cup. At international lev ...

became the second referee to officiate his 100th test match, and also equalled

Nigel Owens Nigel Owens, (born 18 June 1971) is a Welsh former international rugby union referee, who retired in December 2020 after a 17-year career. He currently holds the world record for the most test matches refereed and is one of five international re ...

' record for the most test matches refereed. * New Zealand equaled their record points total 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 ...

, matching the total of 55 achieved in June 2003. It was also their highest points total away to the Welsh, breaking the previous record of 54 set in October 2021. ---- Notes: * Jimmy O'Brien (Ireland) made his international debut. *

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 ...

became the eighth player to earn his 100th test cap for Ireland. ---- Notes: * Gonzalo López Bontempo, Raúl Calzón,

Alejandro Suárez Alejandro Suárez Velázquez (born 30 November 1980 in Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro) is a Mexican former long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres. His personal best time is 13:18.13 minutes, achieved in June 2003 in Victor ...

and Nico Rocaríes (all Spain) made their international debuts. * Tau Koloamatangi,

Vaea Fifita Vaea Tangitau Lapota Fifita (born 17 June 1992) is a Tongan Rugby Union, rugby union player who currently plays for the Scarlets. Previously he was a Lock (rugby union), lock or Flanker (rugby union), loose forward for the in the international ...

, Augustine Pulu and

George Moala George Moala (born 5 November 1990), is a professional rugby union player currently playing for Clermont Auvergne in the French Top 14, having previously played in New Zealand for both Auckland and the Blues. Early career Moala attended Tamaki ...

(all Tonga) made their international debuts. Fifita, Pulu and Moala had previously played for

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 ...

, while Koloamatangi had previously played for

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...

, but all were able to change countries as a result of a change in international eligibility rules adopted by World Rugby on 24 November 2021. ---- Notes: *

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 ...

reclaim the

Trophée des Bicentenaires To celebrate the bi-centenaries of the First Fleet and of the French Revolution, in 1988 and 1989 respectively, the French Rugby Union donated the Trophée des Bicentenaires (, "Trophy of the Bicentenaries") to be played in perpetuity between th ...

for the first time since 2014. ---- Notes: * Vakh Abdaladze, Luka Matkava, Guram Papidze, Tengiz Peranidze (all Georgia) and Juan Zuccarino (Uruguay) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * Alex Coles (England) made his international debut. * Argentina recorded their first win over England since their 24–22 victory in

2009 File:2009 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The vertical stabilizer of Air France Flight 447 is pulled out from the Atlantic Ocean; Barack Obama becomes the first African American to become President of the United States; 2009 Iran ...

, and their first at

Twickenham Twickenham is a suburban district in London, England. It is situated on the River Thames southwest of Charing Cross. Historically part of Middlesex, it has formed part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames since 1965, and the boroug ...

since

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 ...

12/13 November

---- Notes: *

Jack Crowley Jack Crowley (born 13 January 2000) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for United Rugby Championship club Munster and the Ireland national team. Early life Born in Innishannon, County Cork, Crowley first began playing ru ...

, Jeremy Loughman and

Cian Prendergast Cian Prendergast (born 23 February 2000) is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for United Rugby Championship club Connacht and the Ireland national team. Early life Prendergast grew up in County Kildare and b ...

(all Ireland) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * Italy recorded their first ever Test victory over Australia after 18 consecutive defeats, dating back to the first meeting between the two countries in October 1983. * Ben Donaldson and

Mark Nawaqanitawase Mark Nawaqanitawase (; born 11 September 2000) is an Australian professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for Super Rugby club the Waratahs and the Australia national team. Early life Nawaqanitawase is of mixed Fijian and Ital ...

(both Australia) made their test debuts. ---- Notes: * Stijn Albers, Leroy van Dam, Kevin Lenssen, Peter Lydon, Willie du Plessis, Jessy Wagemaker,

Dirk Wierenga A dirk is a long bladed thrusting dagger.Chisholm, Hugh (ed.), ''Dagger'', The Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th ed., Vol. VII, New York, NY: Cambridge University Press (1910), p. 729 Historically, it gained its name from the Highland Dirk (Scot ...

(all Netherlands),

Callum Botchar Callum Botchar (born October 3, 1997) is a Canadian rugby union player. Botchar, born in Ottawa, grew up in Vancouver and attended Magee Secondary School. A back-row forward, Botchar came through the Pacific Pride academy. He had a season in Ne ...

and Matthew Klimchuk (both Canada) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * Mario Pichardie, Matheo Triki (both Spain), Warren Ludwig, Le Roux Malan, Wicus Jacobs and André van den Berg (all Namibia) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * Alexander Kuntelia (Georgia) made his international debut. *

Alexander Todua Sandro Todua (born 2 November 1987 in Tbilisi, Georgia) is a Georgian rugby union player. He plays at wing (and occasionally centre) for the Rugby Pro D2 Rugby Pro D2, also known as Pro D2 is the second tier of rugby union club competition ...

became the third Georgian to earn their 100th test cap. * Samoa recorded their first win over Georgia since 2003, and their first in Georgia. ---- Notes: * David Ribbans (England) made his international debut. *

Henry Slade Henry Slade (1835–1905) was a famous fraudulent medium who lived and practiced in both Europe and North America. Biography Slade was most well known as a slate-writing medium. During his séances he would place a small slate with a piece ...

(England) earned his 50th test cap. ---- Notes: * Eliseo Morales (Argentina) made his international debut. ---- Notes: * Bastien Chalureau,

Reda Wardi Reda Wardi (born 2 August 1995) is a French rugby union player, who plays for Stade Rochelais. Club career Having grown trough the Montpellier HR academy Reda Wardi started his career with the AS Béziers Hérault in Prod D2, before joining ...

(both France) and Manie Libbok (South Africa) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * Florin Surugiu (Romania) earned his 100th test cap. ---- ---- Notes: *

Mark Telea Mark Evander Tele'a (born 6 December 1996) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for Super Rugby club Blues and the New Zealand national team. Club career After showing promising form for during the 2019 M ...

(New Zealand) made his international debut.

19/20 November

Notes: * Reinaldo Piussi (Uruguay) made his international debut. * This was the first game between these two nations. ---- Notes: * Namibia recorded their first ever victory over Canada. * Kyle Steeves, Owain Ruttan (both Canada), Richard Hardwick and

Darryl Wellman Darryl is an English name, a variant spelling of Darell. Male variations of this name include: Darlin, Daryl, Darrell, Darryl, Daryll, Darryll, Darrell, Darrel. Female and unisex variations of this name include: Daryl, Darian, Dareen, Darell ...

(both Namibia) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * South Africa recorded their biggest away victory over Italy (excluding their meeting in the

2019 Rugby World Cup The 2019 Rugby World Cup was the ninth edition of the Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for men's rugby union teams. It was hosted in Japan from 20 September to 2 November in 12 venues all across the country. The opening match ...

, which took place in a

neutral venue In team sports, the term home advantage – also called home ground, home field, home-field advantage, home court, home-court advantage, defender's advantage or home-ice advantage – describes the benefit that the home team is said to ga ...

). ---- Notes: * Georgia recorded their first win over Wales, and their first away victory against a Tier 1 nation. * Dafydd Jenkins and

Josh Macleod Josh Macleod (born 27 October 1996) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for the Scarlets as a back-rower. He has been capped for both Wales U20 and Wales. Club career Macleod made his debut for the Scarlets Under 16s in the 2012–13 sea ...

(both Wales) made their international debuts. * Wales lost to a Tier 2 nation for the first time since their 23–8 loss to

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

during their 2013 tour. They also recorded their first home loss to a Tier 2 side since losing to

by 26–19 in November 2012. ---- Notes: * Mihai Macovei (Romania) earned his 100th test cap. He also became the player with the highest number of caps (68) as captain of Romania. * Des Sepulona (Samoa) made his international debut. ---- ---- Notes: * Scotland recorded their biggest points total against Argentina, exceeding 50 points for the first time in 22 matches between the two nations. ---- 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 ...

(England) became the third Englishman to earn 100 test caps. *

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 ...

(New Zealand) became the 12th All Black to earn 100th test caps. * This was only the second draw between England and New Zealand in history, and the first since December 1997. * 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: *

Joe McCarthy Joseph Raymond McCarthy (November 14, 1908 – May 2, 1957) was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957. Beginning in 1950, McCarthy became the most vis ...

(Ireland) made his international debut. ---- Notes: * France finished 2022 unbeaten, becoming only the third team to win all their games in an entire calendar year; after

in 2013, and

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 ...

in 2016.

26 November

Notes: *

Leigh Halfpenny Stephen Leigh Halfpenny (born 22 December 1988) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a fullback or wing for the Scarlets, Wales and the British & Irish Lions. Halfpenny is the third highest points scorer for Wales after Neil Jenkins and ...

(Wales) had been named to start but withdrew in the warm-up and was replaced by Josh Adams. Sam Costelow replaced Adams on the bench. *

Taulupe Faletau Tangaki Taulupe "Toby" Faletau (born 12 November 1990) is a Welsh professional rugby union player for Cardiff Rugby in the United Rugby Championship and has represented the national team for over 10 years. The back row forward played for Cr ...

(Wales) made his 100th international appearance (95 for Wales and 5 for the

British and 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 ...

). * Joe Hawkins (Wales) and Sam Talakai (Australia) made their international debuts. * Australia reclaimed 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 since 2017. * Wales surrendered a record-breaking 21-point lead to eventually lose a game. ---- Notes: *

Manu Tuilagi Etuale Manusamoa Tuilagi (born 18 May 1991), known as Manu Tuilagi, is a rugby union player for Sale Sharks. He has played internationally for and the British & Irish Lions. Born in Fogapoa, Samoa, Tuilagi has five elder brothers who played fo ...

(England) earned his 50th test cap.

References

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

2022 File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; 2022 Sri Lankan protests, Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretari ...

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 ...