2013 end of year rugby union internationals

The 2013 end of year rugby tests, also known as the 2013 Autumn internationals in the Northern Hemisphere, were a series of international rugby union matches predominantly played between the visiting Southern Hemisphere countries; Argentina, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, South Africa, Tonga – and the European sides; England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.

Contents

• Bledisloe Cup Part 3
• Week 1
• Week 4
• Week 5
• References

In 2013, a record 39 full test matches took place, with a record 24 matches including a tier 2 or tier 3 side, six of which being a tier 1 v tier 2 fixture, as the IRB builds up to the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Georgia, Hong Kong, Ivory Coast, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Spain, Tunisia, United States and Uruguay were all in action, with the three Pacific Island teams and Japan once again facing tier 1 opposition. Wales and France played host to Tonga, Italy hosted Fiji, Ireland hosted Samoa and Scotland hosted Japan. Japan additionally hosted New Zealand in what was their first official test encounter in Japan, and became New Zealand's first tier 2 opposition since the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and their first tier 2 opposition outside the Rugby World Cup since Fiji, in the 2011 RWC warm-ups.

Australia attempted their first Grand Slam tour of the Home Nations since 2009 following their 2–1 defeat to the British and Irish Lions in June 2013. However, their first Grand Slam victory since 1984 was not possible following their 20–13 defeat to England in the opening week of their tour. In addition to their Grand Slam tour, Australia also played Italy in Turin for the first time. World Champions New Zealand played France, for the fourth time in 2013, England and Ireland. South Africa played Wales, Scotland and France while Argentina played England, Wales and Italy.

In addition, the November schedule will saw historic first-ever visits by Samoa and Tonga to Georgia and Romania, respectively, as well as visits from Portugal to São Paulo to take on Brazil for a first ever Test match between the two sides. Russia played Japan and the United States at a neutral venue in the United Kingdom after Georgia hosted both Canada and the United States. Portugal played Fiji for just their second meeting, as well as playing Canada in Lisbon, where as Spain toured South America, visiting Uruguay and Chile, before returning home to play Japan – and with Japan's non-test match against Gloucester, and other test matches, November 2013 became Japan's busiest November international window, as they prepare to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup. With the ceasing of the Emirates Cup of Nations, Hong Kong will host a two-test series against Belgium ahead of their final rounds of the Rugby World Cup qualification matches that starts in February 2014.

Three invitational teams were in action against an international nation during November, all of which were non-test match fixtures. The Māori All Blacks toured North America visiting Canada and the United States, while the French Barbarians faced Samoa. The Barbarians and the Flying Fijians battled for the Killik Cup, which acted as a Centenary Match to mark 100 years of rugby in Fiji.

Like in recent seasons, New Zealand and Australia played the third and final Bledisloe Cup test match for the year, which New Zealand won 41–33.