Rugby Union International Friendlies

About Rugby Union International Friendlies

Rugby union international friendlies are otherwise known as test matches. A test match is an international match, usually played between two senior national teams, that is recognized as such by at least one of the teams' national governing bodies.

Some teams do not represent a single country but their international games are still considered test matches (for example the British and Irish Lions). Likewise some countries award caps for games between their full national teams and some invitation teams such as the Barbarians.

The July Tests, also known as the summer Tests or mid-year Tests, are international rugby union matches played around the month of July each year. They include traditional summer tours by European nations to countries in the southern hemisphere, North America or J…