The 2021 mid-year rugby union internationals (also known as the summer internationals in the Northern Hemisphere) were a series of international rugby union matches. Due to ongoing restrictions around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of matches were cancelled, and some series moved so that the Northern Hemisphere nations hosted the matches, and some teams played for the first time since their final matches of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.World Rugby and unions confirm men’s July test schedule
The window was highlighted by the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa, which included a three-test series between the Lions and South Africa. Ahead of the tour, the Lions hosted their first home match since 2005, against Japan in Scotland, while South Africa were scheduled to host a two-test series against Georgia; the first time the teams had met outside the Rugby World Cup. The second test of this series was cancelled. Japan went on to play Ireland. Ireland also played the United States, having had to adapt their summer tour after their test series away to Fiji was cancelled. To replace Ireland's tour, Fiji traveled to New Zealand for a first ever test series against the All Blacks, who also hosted Tonga. Tonga began their preparation for their 2023 Rugby World Cup qualification series against Samoa, and Samoa used a two-match series against the Māori All Blacks as their preparation. The three-test series between Australia and France was condensed to take place within 11 days, due to French club commitments and a hotel quarantine period for the France team. Australia go on to play New Zealand in the first Bledisloe Cup match of the year.
England and Wales's summer tours were reversed, as England welcomed Canada and the United States, and Wales hosted Argentina. Wales, who were originally meant to play Uruguay as part of their South America tour, instead played Canada ahead of their two-test series against Argentina. Argentina also prepared for the series with a first visit to Bucharest since 1992 to play Romania, which replaced Argentina's cancelled home game against Georgia. Romania were scheduled to face Scotland for the first time since 2011 and Scotland were also due to play Georgia as part of their Eastern Europe tour, but both matches were cancelled.
The window also contained a number of other 2023 Rugby World Cup qualification warm-ups as Uruguay played an Argentina XV, the Cook Islands played a Tasman Mako HP XV and the New Zealand U20 team, and Zimbabwe played Zambia. Zimbabwe were also scheduled to play Portugal, but the match was cancelled.
Series SeriesResultWinner South Africa–British & Irish Lions Test series 2–1 New Zealand–Fiji Test series 2–0 Australia–France Test series 2–1 South Africa–Georgia Test series 1–0 Wales–Argentina Test series 1–0
Fixtures 2 June
5 June
12 June
Team details FB 15Ryohei YamanakaRW 14Lomano LemekiOC 13Timothy Lafaele IC 12Ryoto NakamuraLW 11Gerhard van den Heever FH 10Yu Tamura SH 9 Kaito Shigeno N8 8 Amanaki MafiOF 7 Naoki Ozawa BF 6 Michael Leitch (c) RL 5 James Moore LL 4 Wimpie van der Walt TP 3 Asaeli Ai Valu HK 2 Atsushi Sakate LP 1 Keita Inagaki Replacements:HK 16Kosuke Horikoshi PR 17Craig Millar PR 18Shinnosuke Kakinaga LK 19Jack Cornelsen FL 20Tevita Tatafu FL 21Lappies Labuschagné SH 22Naoto Saito FH 23Rikiya Matsuda CE 24Shane Gates WG 25Siosaia Fifita Coach: Jamie Joseph FB 15 Ryuji Noguchi RW 14 Taichi TakahashiOC 13 Dylan RileyIC 12 Yusuke Kajimura LW 11 Seiya Ozaki FH 10 Takuya Yamasawa SH 9 Kouki Arai N8 8 Ben Gunter OF 7 Ed Quirk (c) BF 6 Liaki Moli RL 5 Uwe Helu LL 4 Ryota Hasegawa TP 3 Kengo Kitagawa HK 2 Yusuke Niwai LP 1 Yukio Morikawa Replacements:HK 16 Yoshikatsu Hikosaka PR 17 Shogo Miura PR 18 Shunsuke Asaoka LK 19 Daichi Akiyama FL 20 Shunsuke Nunomaki SH 21 Daiki Nakajima FH 22 Doga Maeda CE 23 Kanta Shikao WG 24 Koki Takeyama Coach: Naoya Okubo Assistant referees: JRFU Appt. (Japan) JRFU Appt. (Japan) Television match official: JRFU Appt. (Japan)
19 June
26/27 June
Team details FB 15Kaleb TraskRW 14Shaun Stevenson OC 13Billy ProctorIC 12Alex NankivellLW 11Sean WainuiFH 10Otere Black SH 9 Bryn Hall N8 8 Whetu DouglasOF 7 Billy Harmon BF 6 Reed PrinsepRL 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere LL 4 Manaaki Selby-RickitTP 3 Josh Hohneck HK 2 Ash Dixon (c) LP 1 Pouri Rakete-Stones Replacements:HK 16Kurt Eklund PR 17Tamaiti Williams PR 18Marcel Renata LK 19Josh Dickson FL 20Jacob Norris SH 21Sam Nock FH 22Josh Ioane WG 23Jonah Lowe Coach: Clayton McMillan FB 15Tomasi Alosio RW 14Johnny VailiOC 13Losi Filipo IC 12Henry TaefuLW 11Neria Foma'iFH 10Rodney IonaSH 9 Dwayne Polataivao N8 8 Olajuwon Noa OF 7 Jack Lam (c)BF 6 Henry StowersRL 5 Samuel SladeLL 4 Ben Nee-Nee TP 3 Kalolo Tuiloma HK 2 Ray Niuia LP 1 Albert Anae Replacements:HK 16JP Sauni PR 17Jonah Aoina PR 18Michael Alaalatoa LK 19Filo Paulo LK 20Theo McFarland SH 21Auvasa Faleali'i CE 22Stacey Ili WG 23Elisapeta Alofipo Coach: Seilala Mapusua Assistant referees: Graham Cooper (Australia) Reuben Keane (Australia) Television match official: Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Notes: The sides faced each other for the first time since 2008.
Team details FB 15 Liam Williams RW 14 Josh AdamsOC 13 Robbie HenshawIC 12 Bundee Aki LW 11 Duhan van der MerweFH 10 Dan BiggarSH 9 Conor Murray N8 8 Jack Conan OF 7 Justin Tipuric BF 6 Tadhg BeirneRL 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c) LL 4 Iain HendersonTP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Ken Owens LP 1 Rory Sutherland Replacements:HK 16 Jamie George PR 17 Wyn Jones PR 18 Kyle Sinckler LK 19 Courtney Lawes N8 20 Taulupe Faletau SH 21 Ali Price FH 22 Owen Farrell WG 23 Anthony Watson Coach: Warren Gatland FB 15Ryohei YamanakaRW 14Kotaro MatsushimaOC 13Timothy LafaeleIC 12Ryoto NakamuraLW 11Siosaia FifitaFH 10Yu TamuraSH 9 Kaito Shigeno N8 8 Amanaki Mafi OF 7 Lappies Labuschagné BF 6 Michael Leitch (c)RL 5 James MooreLL 4 Wimpie van der Walt TP 3 Koo Ji-won HK 2 Atsushi SakateLP 1 Keita Inagaki Replacements:HK 16Kosuke HorikoshiPR 17Craig Millar PR 18Asaeli Ai Valu FL 19Jack Cornelsen FL 20Kazuki Himeno N8 21Tevita Tatafu SH 22Naoto Saito FH 23Rikiya MatsudaCoach: Jamie Joseph Performance of the Match: Dan Biggar (British & Irish Lions)
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset (France) Ludovic Cayre (France) Television match official: Eric Gauzins (France) Notes: Hamish Watson and Zander Fagerson (British & Irish Lions) were named to start, but was withdrawn in the week leading up to the game due to injury and head knock. Justin Tipuric replaced Watson whilst Tadhg Furlong was promoted from the bench to replace Fagerson - Kyle Sinckler replaced Furlong on the bench.LIONS V JAPAN: TIPURIC TO REPLACE WATSON IN STARTING XVLIONS V JAPAN: FAGERSON RULED OUT OF 1888 CUP No replacement was made for Jack Conan. Jack Cornelsen, Siosaia Fifita, Craig Millar and Naoto Saito (all Japan) made their international debuts.
Japan became the eighth test nation to play the British & Irish Lions.
Team details (named before cancellation) FB 15Freddie StewardRW 14Adam RadwanOC 13Ollie LawrenceIC 12Dan KellyLW 11Max MalinsFH 10Jacob UmagaSH 9 Harry RandallN8 8 Callum ChickOF 7 Ben CurryBF 6 Lewis Ludlow (c)RL 5 Charlie EwelsLL 4 Harry WellsTP 3 Joe HeyesHK 2 Curtis LangdonLP 1 Ellis GengeReplacements:HK 16Jamie BlamirePR 17Beno ObanoPR 18Trevor DavisonFL 19Ted HillFL 20Lewis LudlamSH 21Dan RobsonFH 22George FurbankWG 23Joe CokanasigaCoach: John Mitchell FB 15Damien HoylandRW 14Rufus McLeanOC 13Matt Scott (c)IC 12Stafford McDowallLW 11Blair KinghornFH 10Ross ThompsonSH 9 Charlie ShielN8 8 Magnus BradburyOF 7 Rory DargeBF 6 Josh BaylissRL 5 Kiran McDonaldLL 4 Cameron HendersonTP 3 Oli KebbleHK 2 Ewan AshmanLP 1 Nick AuteracReplacements:HK 16Adam McBurneyPR 17Robin HislopPR 18Javan SebastianLK 19Jamie HodgsonFL 20Callum Hunter-HillSH 21Ben VellacottFH 22Adam HastingsCE 23George TaylorCoach: Mike Blair Assistant referees: Eoghan Cross (Ireland) Peter Martin (Ireland) Television match official: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
2/3/4 July
Team details FB 15Willie le RouxRW 14Rosko SpecmanOC 13Jesse KrielIC 12François Steyn LW 11Aphelele FassiFH 10Handré Pollard SH 9 Cobus Reinach N8 8 Kwagga Smith BF 7 Pieter-Steph du ToitOF 6 Siya Kolisi (c)RL 5 Franco MostertLL 4 Eben Etzebeth TP 3 Trevor Nyakane HK 2 Bongi Mbonambi LP 1 Ox Nché Replacements:HK 16Malcolm Marx PR 17Steven Kitshoff PR 18Frans Malherbe LK 19Marvin Orie LF 20Jasper Wiese SH 21Herschel Jantjies FH 22Elton Jantjies FB 23Damian Willemse Coach: Jacques Nienaber FB 15Davit NiniashviliRW 14Aka TabutsadzeOC 13Giorgi KveseladzeIC 12Merab Sharikadze (c) LW 11Demur TapladzeFH 10Tedo Abzhandadze SH 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze N8 8 Tornike JalaghoniaOF 7 Beka Saghinadze BF 6 Ilia Spanderashvili RL 5 Konstantin Mikautadze LL 4 Davit Gigauri TP 3 Giorgi Melikidze HK 2 Jaba BregvadzeLP 1 Guram Gogichashvili Replacements:HK 16Giorgi Chkoidze PR 17Nika Khatiashvili PR 18Luka Japaridze LK 19Nodar Tcheishvili LK 20Giorgi Javakhia SH 21Gela Aprasidze FH 22Giorgi Babunashvili FL23Irakli Tskhadadze Coach: Levan Maisashvili Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England) Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Notes: Giorgi Tsutskiridze (Georgia) was named to start but was injured in training ahead of the game and was replaced by Ilia Spanderashvili. Irakli Tskhadadze replaced Spanderashvili on the bench. Aphelele Fassi, Rosko Specman and Jasper Wiese (all South Africa) and Luka Japaridze (Georgia) made their international debuts.
Team details FB 15Josh IoaneRW 14Jonah LoweOC 13Billy Proctor IC 12Alex Nankivell LW 11Sean WainuiFH 10Otere Black SH 9 Sam Nock N8 8 Whetu DouglasOF 7 Billy Harmon BF 6 Reed PrinsepRL 5 Pari Pari Parkinson LL 4 Manaaki Selby-RickitTP 3 Josh Hohneck HK 2 Ash Dixon (c) LP 1 Tamaiti Williams Replacements:HK 16Kurt Eklund PR 17Ollie Norris PR 18Marcel Renata LK 19Isaia Walker-Leawere FL 20Josh Dickson SH 21Bryn Hall CE 22Rameka Poihipi WG 23Shaun Stevenson Coach: Clayton McMillan FB 15Tomasi AlosioRW 14Elisapeta Alofipo OC 13Stacey IliIC 12Henry TaefuLW 11Neria Foma'iFH 10Rodney Iona SH 9 Auvasa Faleali'i N8 8 Henry StowersOF 7 Alamanda MotugaBF 6 Samuel Slade RL 5 Theo McFarland LL 4 Ben Nee-Nee TP 3 Michael Alaalatoa (c) HK 2 Ray Niuia LP 1 Tietie Tuimauga Replacements:HK 16JP Sauni PR 17Jonah Aoina PR 18Kalolo Tuiloma LK 19Filo Paulo FL 20Genesis Mamea-Lemalu SH 21Jonathan Taumateine FH 22D'Angelo Leuila WG 23Joe Perez Coach: Seilala Mapusua Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand) Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) Television match official: Shane McDermott (New Zealand) Notes: Albert Anae and Ahsee Tuala (Samoa) were named to start but withdrew ahead of kick off due to injury and were replaced by Tomasi Alosio and Tietie Tuimauga. Jonah Aoina replaced Tuimauga on the bench. This was the Māori All Blacks' 125th international match.
Team details FB 15Damian McKenzieRW 14Will JordanOC 13Rieko IoaneIC 12Quinn Tupaea LW 11George BridgeFH 10Richie Mo'unga SH 9 Brad Weber N8 8 Luke JacobsonOF 7 Dalton Papalii BF 6 Akira IoaneRL 5 Sam Whitelock (c)LL 4 Scott Barrett TP 3 Angus Ta'avao HK 2 Dane Coles LP 1 Karl Tu'inukuafe Replacements:HK 16Asafo Aumua PR 17George Bower PR 18Tyrel Lomax LK 19Patrick Tuipulotu FL 20Ethan Blackadder SH 21Finlay Christie FH 22Beauden Barrett FB 23Jordie Barrett Coach: Ian Foster FB 15James Faiva RW 14Hosea Saumaki OC 13Fine Inisi IC 12Nikolai FoliakiLW 11Penikolo LatuFH 10Kali HalaSH 9 Sonatane Takulua (c)N8 8 Sione TuipulotuOF 7 Solomone FunakiBF 6 Mateaki Kafatolu RL 5 Zane Kapeli LL 4 Don LoloTP 3 Sila Puafisi HK 2 Sam Moli LP 1 Replacements:HK 16Siua Maile PR 17Jethro Felemi PR 18Lua Li LK 19Harrison Mataele FL 20Viliami Taulani N8 21Nasi Manu SH 22Leon Fukofuka WG 23Walter Fifita Coach: Toutai Kefu Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand) Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand) Notes: