Coach(es) Warren Gatland Top point scorer(s) Dan Biggar (24) Top test point scorer(s) Dan Biggar (24) | Tour captain(s) Alun Wyn Jones Top try scorer(s) Alex Cuthbert (3) Top test try scorer(s) Alex Cuthbert (2) | |
In June 2014, Wales toured South Africa, playing a 2-test series against the Springboks. In addition to the two Test matches, Wales also played a warm-up uncapped match against domestic club side Eastern Province Kings. The three matches coincided with the June International Window, playing in the second and third week of the window.
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Wales entered the test series on the back of 14 consecutive losses to South Africa; the last time Wales won against South Africa was in June 1999, the only time Wales have beaten South Africa. Wales were on 16 consecutive losses to the Southern Hemisphere greats, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, with the last time they beat a Southern Hemisphere great was in November 2008, and have not won an away match to the Southern Hemisphere greats since 1969.
The 14 consecutive losses to South Africa were extended to 16, while the 16 consecutive losses to the Southern Hemisphere greats were extended to 18 following a 2–0 series defeat. The only win of the tour came in the un-capped match against the Eastern Province Kings, 34–12. During the test series, Wales and South Africa contested the Prince William Cup, which South Africa retained with the series victory. It was the seventh time South Africa won the trophy to Wales' zero.
Eastern Province Kings
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First test
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Second test
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Wales
Pre tour, the Welsh Rugby Union announced that on 30 May, a Wales senior trial match would take place at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, the first of its kind in 14 years. It was the final chance to impress the Wales management ahead of the tour to South Africa. The failure of the Welsh regions to qualify for the 2013–14 Pro12 play-offs, meant for many of the players, there would be a five-week gap between the end of the season and the first Test. The teams were announced on 13 May, with the Probables Squad be coached by Rob Howley, and the Possibles Squad being coach by Robin McBryde. However, English based players were not released by the Aviva Premiership clubs as the match fell outside the international window, and the clubs do not have to release players according to the IRB regulations. This meant, the trail teams were made up solely of Welsh-based players and French based players released by their clubs.
Trail match
Note: Players in Bold denotes players that are internationally capped.
Touring squad
Head coach Warren Gatland named a 32-man squad following the trail match, for the 2-test series against South Africa. It included 19 players from the Probables squad, 10 players from the Possibles squad and 3 players that did not feature in the Trail match.
Head Coach: Warren Gatland
Note: Caps and ages are to pre first test match - 14 June 2014.