The 2012 mid-year rugby union tests (also known as the Summer Internationals in the Northern Hemisphere) refer to the rugby union Internationals that were played through June, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere.
These matches marked the start of a global rugby calendar established by the International Rugby Board (IRB), which runs until 2019. The calendar includes a return of traditional tours by European teams, in which a team plays multiple Tests against a southern hemisphere side, often with mid-week matches against provincial or regional sides. This year, all three of the teams that competed in the Rugby Championship's predecessor tournament, the Tri Nations, hosted European nations in three-Test series. Australia hosted Wales, marking the first three-Test series in Australia by a top European side since the British & Irish Lions' 2001 tour. [1] South Africa hosted England for three Tests, the first extended tour of that country by a single nation since New Zealand toured in 1996. [2]
The new calendar also provided expanded Test opportunities for so-called "Tier 2" nations. As part of this IRB initiative, another tradition returned – tours of the Pacific Islands by major nations. Scotland became the first Tier 1 nation to play a Test in the Pacific Islands since 2006, visiting Fiji and Samoa. [3] Also, Italy toured the Americas, claiming wins over Canada and the United States and a loss to Argentina.
Tour | Result | Winners |
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Australia v Wales test series (3 tests) | 3–0 | ![]() |
New Zealand v Ireland test series (3 tests) | 3–0 | ![]() |
Argentina v France test series (2 tests) | 1–1 | Drawn |
South Africa v England test series (3 tests) | 2–0 | ![]() |
Japan v French Barbarians test series (2 tests) | 0–2 | French Barbarians |
Team/Tour | Opponents |
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Barbarians end of season tour | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Italy tour | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Scotland tour | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Georgia tour | ![]() ![]() |
27 May 2012 14:30 BST (UTC+01) |
England ![]() | 57–26 | Barbarians |
Try: Ashton (3) 17' c, 37' c, 43' c Hartley 34' m Wade 57' c Wigglesworth 66' c Joseph (2) 69' c, 79' c Con: Farrell (7/8) 17', 38', 44', 57', 67', 70', 80' Pen: Farrell (1/2) 2' | Report [4] | Try: Muliaina (2) 31' m, 47' c Tindall 63' c Taele 71' c Con: Donald (2/3) 32', 64' Contepomi (1/1) 72' |
Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 42,269 Referee: John Lacey (Ireland) |
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29 May 2012 19:45 BST (UTC+01) |
Ireland ![]() | 28–29 | Barbarians |
Try: Gilroy (2) 15' c, 64' c Earls 25' c Zebo 44' c Con: O'Gara (4/4) 15', 25', 44', 64' | Report [5] | Try: Balshaw 11' c C. van Zyl 18' c Sackey 29' c Tindall 58' m Con: Contepomi (3/4) 11', 18', 29' Pen: Contepomi (1/1) 78' |
Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester Attendance: 11,654 Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France) |
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2 June 2012 14:00 BST (UTC+01) |
Wales ![]() | 30–21 | Barbarians |
Try: Robinson 10' c Hook 71' c Brew 79' c Con: Hook (3/3) 11', 72', 80' Pen: Hook (3/3) 4', 25', 51' | Report [6] | Try: Donald (2) 27' c, 59' c Rees 36' c Con: Donald (3/3) 28', 37', 60' |
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 57,565 Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland) |
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5 June 2012 19:30 AEST (UTC+10) |
Australia ![]() | 6–9 | ![]() |
Pen: Harris (2/2) 32', 42' | Report [8] | Pen: Laidlaw (3/4) 22', 27', 80' |
Newcastle International Sports Centre, Newcastle Attendance: 20,088 Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) |
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9 June 2012 19:35 NZST (UTC+12) |
New Zealand ![]() | 42–10 | ![]() |
Try: Savea (3) 25' c, 37' c, 43' c Thomson 54' m Smith 77' c Con: Carter (4/5) 26', 38', 45, 78 Pen: Carter (3/3) 5', 14', 17' | Report [10] | Try: McFadden 48' c Con: Sexton (1/1) 49' Pen: Sexton (1/1) 7' |
Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 43,300 Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales) |
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9 June 2012 20:00 AEST (UTC+10) |
Australia ![]() | 27–19 | ![]() |
Try: Higginbotham 14' c Genia 40' c McCabe 66' c Con: Barnes (3/3) 15', 42', 67' Pen: Barnes (1/3) 8' Drop: Barnes (1/1) 49' | Report [11] | Try: Cuthbert 57' c Con: Halfpenny (1/1) 59' Pen: Halfpenny (4/4) 21', 45', 55', 62' |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 43,000 Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa) |
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9 June 2012 17:00 SAST (UTC+02) |
South Africa ![]() | 22–17 | ![]() |
Try: M. Steyn 47' m de Villiers 59' m Pen: M. Steyn (4/5) 13', 29', 69', 77' | Report [12] | Try: Foden 80' m Pen: Farrell (4/4) 6', 26', 63', 65' |
Mr Price Kings Park, Durban Attendance: 43,052 Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia) |
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9 June 2012 15:40 ART (UTC-03) |
Argentina ![]() | 37–22 | ![]() |
Try: Leonardi 33' c Roncero 56' c Senatore 66' c Contepomi 74' c Con: Contepomi (4/4) 34', 57, 67, 75' Pen: Contepomi (3/4) 10', 28', 44' | Report [13] | Try: Penalty try 24' c Gori 54' m Ma. Bergamasco 79' c Con: Burton (1/2) 25' Bocchino (1/1) 80' Pen: Burton (1/1) 1' |
Estadio Bicentenario, San Juan Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France) |
Assistant referees: |
9 June 2012 14:00 EDT (UTC-04) |
Canada ![]() | 28–25 | ![]() |
Try: Evans Hearn Carpenter Con: Pritchard (2/3) Pen: Pritchard (3/3) | Report [14] | Try: Hume Paterson LaValla Con: Holder (2/3) Pen: Holder (2/2) |
Richardson Memorial Stadium, Kingston, Ontario Attendance: 7,521 Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa) |
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15 June 2012 19:00 EDT (UTC-04) |
Canada ![]() | 16–25 | ![]() |
Try: Trainor 32' c Con: Pritchard (1/1) 33' Pen: Pritchard (3/4) 3', 29', 52' | Report [15] | Try: D'Apice 50' c Con: Burton (1/1) 51' Pen: Burton (6/7) 11', 25', 40', 42', 61', 71' |
BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario Attendance: 12,220 Referee: Dave Pearson (England) |
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16 June 2012 19:35 NZST (UTC+12) |
New Zealand ![]() | 22–19 | ![]() |
Try: A. Smith 42' c Con: Carter (1/1) 43' Pen: Carter (4/5) 22', 30', 35', 64' Drop: Carter (1/1) 81' | Report [16] | Try: Murray 11' c Con: Sexton (1/1) 12' Pen: Sexton (4/5) 20', 47', 65', 69' |
Rugby League Park, Christchurch Attendance: 21,000 Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales) |
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16 June 2012 20:00 AEST (UTC+10) |
Australia ![]() | 25–23 | ![]() |
Try: Horne 38' c Con: Barnes (1/1) 39' Pen: Barnes (5/6) 19', 29', 47', 58', 64' Harris (1/1) 80' | Report [17] | Try: North 3' c Davies 43' c Con: Halfpenny (2/2) 4', 44' Pen: Halfpenny (3/3) 49', 60', 66' |
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 33,880 Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand) |
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16 June 2012 14:00 (UTC+12) |
Fiji ![]() | 25–37 | ![]() |
Try: Domolailai 24' m Nayacalevu 48' c Talebula 64' c Con: Ralulu (2/3) 49', 65' Pen: Ralulu (2/3) 5', 7' | Report [18] | Try: Laidlaw 16' c Penalty try 21' c Visser (2) 36' c, 72' c Con: Laidlaw (4/4) 17', 22', 37', 72' Pen: Laidlaw (3/3) 32', 46', 69' |
Churchill Park, Lautoka Attendance: 15,000 [19] Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) |
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16 June 2012 17:00 SAST (UTC+02) |
South Africa ![]() | 36–27 | ![]() |
Try: Alberts 4' m B. du Plessis 9' c Hougaard 19' c Pietersen 73' m Con: M. Steyn (2/4) 10', 20' Pen: M. Steyn (3/6) 15', 46', 58' Drop: M. Steyn (1/1) 26' | Report [20] | Try: Flood 23' c Youngs (2) 51' c, 61' c Con: Flood (3/3) 24', 52', 62' Pen: Flood (2/2) 9', 64' |
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Attendance: 60,101 Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland) |
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16 June 2012 18:10 ART (UTC-03) |
Argentina ![]() | 23–20 | ![]() |
Try: Agulla 4' c Montero 76' c Con: Contepomi (2/2) 5', 77' Pen: Contepomi (3/6) 24', 39', 56' | Report [21] | Try: Picamoles 26' m Pen: Parra (4/5) 3', 10', 22', 43' Trinh-Duc (1/1) 52' |
Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba Attendance: 40,000 [22] Referee: George Clancy (Ireland) |
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16 June 2012 19:00 MDT (UTC-06) |
United States ![]() | 36–20 | ![]() |
Try: A. Suniula 10' m Paterson 26' c Petri 35' c Clever 73' m Con: Wyles (2/4) Pen: Wyles (4/7) 2', 23', 39', 59' | Report [23] | Try: Kvirikashvili 18' m Sharikadze 50' m Kacharava 60' c Con: Kvirikashvili (1/3) Pen: Kvirikashvili (1/1) 32' |
Infinity Park, Glendale, Colorado Attendance: 3,800 [24] Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa) |
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20 June 2012 19:30 JST (UTC+09) |
Japan ![]() | 21–40 | French Barbarians |
Try: Ono 33' c Tamura 41' c Ito 68' c Con: Tamura (3/3) 33', 41', 68' | Report [25] | Try: Lapeyre (2) 2' m, 30' c Lacrampe 10' c O'Connor 40' c Arias 80' m Con: Lopez (3/5) 11', 30', 40' Pen: Lapeyre (1/1) 23' Lopez (1/1) 38' Bernard (1/1) 79' |
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo Attendance: 9,761 Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand) |
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23 June 2012 15:30 SST (UTC+13) |
Samoa ![]() | 16–17 | ![]() |
Try: T. Pisi 61' c Con: T. Pisi (1/1) 62' Pen: T. Pisi (2/3) 23', 42' Drop: T. Pisi 15' | Report [26] | Try: Ansbro 17' c Harley 78' c Con: Laidlaw (2/2) 18', 79' Pen: Laidlaw (1/1) 51' |
Apia Park, Apia Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) |
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23 June 2012 15:00 AEST (UTC+10) |
Australia ![]() | 20–19 | ![]() |
Try: Horne 64' m Pen: Barnes (5/5) 3', 9', 16', 38', 74' | Report [27] | Try: R. Jones 60' c Con: Halfpenny (1/1) 61' Pen: Halfpenny (4/5) 7', 13', 24', 70' |
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 42,889 Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa) |
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23 June 2012 19:35 NZST (UTC+12) |
New Zealand ![]() | 60–0 | ![]() |
Try: Cane (2) 6' c, 43' c S.B. Williams (2) 11' c, 18' c B. Smith 22' m Gear 49' m Messam 57' m Dagg 62' c Thomson 72' c Con: Cruden (2/2) 7', 12' Dagg (1/2) 19' Barrett (3/3) 44', 63', 73' Pen: Barrett (1/1) 40' | Report [28] |
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 25,100 Referee: Romain Poite (France) |
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23 June 2012 17:00 SAST (UTC+02) |
South Africa ![]() | 14–14 | ![]() |
Try: Pietersen 61' m Pen: M. Steyn (3/5) 6', 15', 27' | Report [30] | Try: Care 11' m Pen: Flood (1/2) 2' Farrell (2/2) 44', 71' |
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth Attendance: 45,000 [31] Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia) |
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23 June 2012 18:10 ART (UTC-03) |
Argentina ![]() | 10–49 | ![]() |
Try: De la Vega 74' c Con: Contepomi (1/1) 74' Pen: Contepomi (1/1) 25' | Report [32] | Try: Fall 11' c Huget (2) 33' c, 62' m Machenaud 39' c Mermoz 55' c Lapandry 67' c Con: Michalak (5/6) 12', 33', 40', 56', 68' Pen: Michalak (3/3) 17', 27', 30' |
Estadio Monumental José Fierro, Tucumán Attendance: 30,000 Referee: George Clancy (Ireland) |
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23 June 2012 14:00 PDT (UTC-07) |
Canada ![]() | 31–12 | ![]() |
Try: Van Der Merwe 5' c Pritchard 22' c Duke 42' m Con: Pritchard (2/3) 6', 23' Pen: Pritchard (4/4) 9', 30', 40', 80' | Report [33] | Try: Nariashvili 36' c Mamukashvili 66' m Con: Kvirikashvili (1/2) 37' |
Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, British Columbia Attendance: 3,661 [34] Referee: Dave Pearson (England) |
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23 June 2012 19:30 CDT (UTC-05) |
United States ![]() | 10–30 | ![]() |
Try: Emerick 31' c Con: Wyles (1/1) 32' Pen: Wyles (1/2) 11' | Report [35] | Try: Festuccia 7' c Gori 34' c Burton 78' c Con: Bocchino (2/2) 8', 35' Burton (1/1) 79' Pen: Bocchino (2/2) 17', 33' Burton (1/1) 68' |
BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston Attendance: 17,214 Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France) |
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24 June 2012 14:00 JST (UTC+09) |
Japan ![]() | 18–51 | French Barbarians |
Try: Takenaka (40'+2') m Broadhurst 58' c Con: Goromaru (1/2) 59' Pen: Goromaru (2/2) 29', 44' | Report [36] | Try: Bonneval 27' c Lacrampe 31' c Bernard 57' c Gunther 66' c Claassen 68' c Rabadan 80' c Con: Teulet (2/2) 27', 80' Bernard (4/4) 33', 57', 67', 69' Pen: Bernard (3/3) 16', 51', 54' |
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo Attendance: 6,000 |
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In the game of rugby union, there are 15 players on each team, comprising eight forwards and seven backs. In addition, there may be up to eight replacement players "on the bench", numbered 16–23. Players are not restricted to a single position, although they generally specialise in just one or two that suit their skills and body types. Players that play multiple positions are called "utility players".
Hugo Porta is an Argentine retired rugby union player. Considered one of the best fly-halves the sport has seen, he is an inductee of both the International Rugby Hall of Fame and IRB Hall of Fame. During the 1970s and 1980s, he played 58 times for Argentina, captaining them on 34 occasions, including leading them during the first World Cup in 1987.
Throughout August 2007, various teams prepared for the Rugby World Cup in France with a short series of test matches, primarily in the Northern Hemisphere and involving the RBS Six Nations sides. In addition, South Africa played one test in Scotland following the 2007 Tri Nations and Argentina one test in their home country and one in Wales. The tests were effectively a replacement for the usual Autumn international series in November which does not take place in World Cup years.
The 2009 mid-year rugby union tests refers to the rugby union Internationals played from 23 May to 4 July 2009, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere.
The 2009 end of year rugby internationals, also known as the Autumn internationals in the Northern Hemisphere, saw Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina, tour the northern hemisphere.
The 2010 mid-year rugby union tests refers to the rugby union Internationals that were played from late May to late June, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere.
The 2010 end-of-year rugby union tests, also known as the Autumn internationals in the northern hemisphere, saw Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in a competitive tour of the northern hemisphere. Test matches were also arranged with the various Pacific island teams and other non-Tier 1 international sides. This period also marked the conclusion of the 2011 Rugby World Cup qualifying process, as well as the beginning of the European Nations Cup.
The 2011 mid-year rugby union tests featured only seven matches due to the upcoming 2011 Rugby World Cup. No test series took place, although the Barbarians did play two matches in the United Kingdom; England and Wales. New Zealand and Australia hosted a respective Tier 2 side, Australia hosted Samoa, New Zealand hosted Fiji. Argentina hosted the French Barbarians, while Japan played a Top League XV side in Tokyo.
In June 2012, Ireland toured New Zealand playing three Tests against the All Blacks. The Irish tour was one in a series of tours by northern teams to be hosted by southern hemisphere nations. It was marketed as the 'Steinlager Series'.
The 2012 autumn internationals, also known as the autumn tests, November tests and, in the Southern Hemisphere, the end of year tests, were international rugby union matches. They were predominantly played between visiting Southern Hemisphere countries and European nations.
In June 2012, France toured Argentina to play two Tests against the Pumas. The French tour was one in a series of tours by northern teams to be hosted by southern hemisphere nations.
In June 2012, the Scotland rugby union team made a tour of Australia, Fiji and Samoa, playing one test match against each.
In June 2012, Wales toured Australia as part of the 2012 mid-year rugby test series. They faced Australia in a series of three internationals across the eastern states, starting at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, then moving on to Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, before finishing in Sydney at the Sydney Football Stadium. In addition, they played a tour match against one of Australia's domestic clubs, the Brumbies, at Canberra Stadium.
For the most recent mid-year window go to 2024 mid-year rugby union tests
The 2013 mid-year rugby union tests were international rugby union matches that were played in June 2013, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere.
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 European sides - England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, and visiting Southern Hemisphere countries - Argentina, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, South Africa and Tonga.
In June 2013, England played a two-test series against Argentina as part of the 2013 mid-year rugby test series. This series was part of the second year of the global rugby calendar established by the International Rugby Board, which runs through to 2019.
In June 2013, France played a three-test series against New Zealand as part of the 2013 mid-year rugby test series. This was the sides' first encounter since they met in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final, which New Zealand won 8–7. It was France's first test series against the All Blacks since their 2009 two-test tour of New Zealand, which ended in a 1–1 draw.
The 2014 mid-year rugby union internationals were international rugby union matches mostly played in the Southern Hemisphere during the June international window.
The 2016 mid-year rugby union internationals are international rugby union matches that were mostly played in the Southern Hemisphere during the June international window.