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2015 mid year rugby union internationals

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The 2015 mid-year rugby union internationals (also known as the Summer Internationals in the Northern Hemisphere) refer to international rugby union matches that were mostly played in the Southern Hemisphere during the June International Window.

Contents

As part of the World Rugby Global rugby calendar (2012–19), 2015 saw the first Rugby World Cup take place during the calendar. This meant, because of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, no test series', or June International Window, took place between the touring Northern Hemisphere nations and the Southern Hemisphere nations. This allowed the ordinary European season to finish 2 weeks later, due to the final of the 2014–15 Top 14 season taking place on 13 June. While the 2015 Super Rugby season was able to run for 21 consecutive weeks, with out the 3 week international break in June, to allow an earlier and shortened 2015 Rugby Championship.

Although the International Window did not take place, some World Cup nations opted to play uncapped matches that will go towards their World Cup preparations. England played their annual Twickenham fixture against the Barbarians, who also played Ireland for the first time since 2012. Uruguay hosted Fijian A-side, the Fiji Warriors in Montevideo, with the Warriors playing Argentina's A-side Argentina Jaguars, between the 2 fixtures. In addition to this, Argentina hosted the French Barbarians across 2 week-ends, repeating the same two fixtures they played in June 2011 before the 2011 Rugby World Cup. South Africa also played an invitational side, hosting a World XV side for second consecutive year. With Russia not competing in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, or either of World Rugby's Nations Cup or Tbilisi Cup, Russia toured Namibia for a two test-series.

Three historic matches also took place. Samoa hosted New Zealand in Apia for the first ever time as an official test match, the first Pacific nation to do so. Previously, they had played an All Blacks XV side, or the Māori All Blacks, who also play Fiji in Suva, at home. Though, because of the 2015 Super Rugby Final, the All Blacks were without several first choice players. Kenya played 2 test matches, against Portugal and Spain, the first ever time that either of these sides have played Kenya, while for Portugal, they become the first European side to visit Kenya for an official test match.

Week 1

Notes:

  • Uruguay gave this match Test Match status and awarded caps in this match.

    • Notes:

  • This was Nathan Hines and Shane Jennings last professional match.

    • Notes:

  • Vasco Uva earned his 100th test cap.

    • Notes:

  • This was Ugo Monye's and Brad Thorn's last professional match.
  • This was England's largest winning margin over the Barbarians, surpassing the 31 point winning margin recorded in May 2012.
  • This was the Barbarians largest ever defeat. It was previously the 59–8 loss to the British and Irish Lions during the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

    • Notes:

  • Uruguay gave this match Test Match status, and awarded caps in this match.

    • Week 5

    Notes:

  • This was the first match played by New Zealand against a Pacific Island team in the Pacific, and they became the first SANZAR team to play in Apia.
  • Faialaga Afamasaga and Tim Nanai-Williams made their international debuts for Samoa.
  • Nepo Laulala, George Moala, Charlie Ngatai and Brad Weber made their international debuts for New Zealand.

    • Notes:

  • Benito Masilevu and Ben Volavola made their international debuts for Fiji.
  • Fiji gave this match Test Match status and awarded caps in this match.

    • Notes:

  • This was Namibia's first ever win over Russia.
  • Namibia Captain Jacques Burger played in his first home since 2009, and was his first win since 2010.

    • References

    2015 mid-year rugby union internationals Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA