The autumn internationals, November internationals, end-of-year tests, and spring internationals/tour for
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
and
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 ...
, are men's
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 that are contested around November each year. It is organised by
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 ...
. Teams from European national teams generally play at home against visiting teams from the Southern Hemisphere.
Second-tier national teams, such as those from North American and Pacific countries also usually have games.
Each team typically plays three or four
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)
...
, and visiting teams may also play games against non-national teams, such as provinces or clubs, as part of a tour. One of the major Southern Hemisphere teams (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or Argentina) often plays against the invitational
Barbarians
A barbarian (or savage) is someone who is perceived to be either uncivilized or primitive. The designation is usually applied as a generalization based on a popular stereotype; barbarians can be members of any nation judged by some to be less c ...
club in the traditional 'Final Challenge', usually 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 ...
in London.
The Grand Slam
A touring nation may also have the opportunity to complete a ''Grand Slam'' by beating the four
home unions of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
See also
*
Mid-year rugby union internationals ''For the most recent Mid-year window go to 2022 July rugby union tests''
The July Tests, also known as the summer Tests or mid-year Tests, are international rugby union matches played around the month of July each year. They include traditional su ...
References
Rugby union matches
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