The 2017 mid-year rugby union internationals (also known as the summer internationals in the Northern Hemisphere) were international rugby union matches that were mostly played in the Southern Hemisphere during the June international window.
The matches were part of World Rugby's Global rugby calendar (2012–19) that includes Test matches between the touring Northern Hemisphere nations and the home Southern Hemisphere nations. In addition to this, the global calendar gives Tier 2 nations the opportunity to play Tier 1 nations outside the November international window, increasing competitiveness from the Tier 2 sides.
Australia, the only southern hemisphere Tier 1 nation not to host a test series, staged three one-off test matches; Scotland, Italy and Fiji. The Fijian test was the first between the two sides in Australia since 2010, and was also the first Australia v Tier 2 nation match in Australia since Samoa visited in 2011. Fiji also played host to Italy and Scotland to become the second Tier 2 nation to play three back-back Tier 1 sides during an international window, after Samoa participated in the South African quadrangular tournament in 2013. En route to their test matches in Australia and Fiji, Italy and Scotland played each other in Singapore, which was the first ever Tier 1 v Tier 1 match played in the country.[1]
For Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the matches acted as warm-ups ahead of the 2017 Rugby Championship. It was also a historic match when Kenya hosted Germany as the teams had never played each other before.
Series
The international window coincided with the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, consisting of a three-test series between the Lions and New Zealand, plus seven non-test matches. Before the Lions series, New Zealand hosted Samoa for the first time since 2008. This was the first time that New Zealand hosted a Tier 2 nation since they played Fiji in June 2011. The match between New Zealand and Samoa followed a curtain raiser between Tonga and Wales, which was played at the same stadium, a neutral venue for the teams. Wales later travelled to Samoa, who hosted the Welsh for the first time since 1994.
South Africa hosted France for the first time since 2010, while playing their first test series against the French since 2005. Argentina hosted England for a two-test series, while Japan hosted Ireland for the first time since 2005, the last time the two sides met. Before Ireland faced Japan, they played a one-off test away to the United States.
Georgia travelled to the Americas where they played Canada, the United States and Argentina across the three week window. Romania, who no longer take part in the World Rugby Nations Cup, played three one-off matches, against Japan, Canada and Brazil. The Brazilian test was a historic first between the two nations, who had never played each other before, and was the first time since Brazil played a France XV side in 1985 that Brazil have played a team in a higher tier than them outside any tournament or competition. Before that test, Brazil played host to Portugal.
Try:Poppmeier 25' c Brenner 42' m Els 65' c Aounallah 73' m Con:Parkinson (1/2) 26' Hilsenbeck (1/2) 66' Pen:Parkinson (1/1) 2' Drop: Hilsenbeck (1/1) 80+1'
Touch judges: Kenya Appt. (Kenya)
Kenya Appt. (Kenya)
Notes:
This was the first meeting between the two nations.
Philip Ikambili, Bramwell Mayaka, George Nyambua, Leo Seje Owade and Oscar Simiyu (all Kenya) and Ben Ellermann and Marcel Henn (both Germany) made their international debuts.
John Hardie was named in the starting XV, but withdrew after getting injured during the warm-up. Ryan Wilson replaced Hardie in the starting XV, Rory Hughes was added to the bench.
Canada failed to score in a match for the first time since losing 41–0 to Scotland in 2008, while Georgia shut out an opponent for the first time since beating Belgium 35–0 in 2014.
Wales beat Samoa for the first time since their 17–10 win during the 2011 Rugby World Cup; it was their first win in Samoa since winning 32–14 in 1986.
Wales won all their June test matches for the first time since beating Canada and the United States during their 2009 tour.
Ngani Laumape (New Zealand) made his international debut.
The British & Irish Lions beat New Zealand for the first time since winning 20–7 during their 1993 tour.[52]
The Lions ended New Zealand's 47-match winning streak at home, losing for the first time since their 32–29 loss to South Africa in 2009.[53]
New Zealand failed to score a try in a game for the first time since they drew with Australia 12–all in 2014, and failed to score a try in a home game for the first time since beating Australia 12–6 in 2002.
Sonny Bill Williams became the first New Zealand player to be sent off since Colin Meads was dismissed against Scotland in 1967, and the first ever to be sent off at home.[54]
The Lions and New Zealand drew a test match for the first time since their 14–14 draw in 1971, and the Lions drew a test match for the first time since their 13–13 draw with South Africa in 1974.
The British & Irish Lions drew a series with New Zealand for the first time, and drew a series for the first time since the 2–2 draw with South Africa in 1955.
New Zealand failed to win at Eden Park for the first time since drawing 18–18 with South Africa in 1994.
