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.
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.
Series Result Winners Argentina v England test series 0–2 Japan v Ireland test series 0–2 New Zealand v British & Irish Lions test series 1–1 Drawn South Africa v France test series 3–0
Other tours 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.
Team/Tour Opponents Georgia tour (won) – (won) – (lost) Italy tour (lost) – (lost) – (lost) Romania tour (lost) – (won) Scotland tour (won) – (won) – (lost) Wales tour (won) – (won)
Fixtures 27–28 May
Team details FB 15Tony OnyangoRW 14Darwin MukidzaOC 13David AmbunyaIC 12Patrice Agunda LW 11Jacob Ojee FH 10Biko Adema SH 9 Samson OnsomuN8 8 Martin Owila OF 7 Davis ChengeBF 6 Eric Kerre RL 5 Simon MuniafuLL 4 Wilson Kopondo (c) TP 3 Dennis Karani HK 2 Peter Karia LP 1 Moses Amusala Replacements:HK 16Philip Ikambili PR 17Oscar Simiyu PR 18Bramwell Mayaka LK 19Oliver Mang’eni FL 20George Nyambua SH 21Kelvin Masai FH 22Leo Seje Owade WG 23Dennis Muhanji Coach: Jerome Paarwater FB 15Harris AounallahRW 14Ben EllermannOC 13Marcel Coetzee IC 12Raynor Parkinson LW 11Mathieu DucauFH 10Chris HilsenbeckSH 9 Tim Menzel N8 8 Jarrid ElsOF 7 Jaco Otto BF 6 Kehoma Brenner RL 5 Michael Poppmeier (c)LL 4 Erik MarksTP 3 Samy Füchsel HK 2 Mika Tyumenev LP 1 Julius Nostadt Replacements:PR 16Jörn Schröder PR 17Antony Dickinson N8 18Timo Vollenkemper HK 19Dasch Barber WG 20Mark Sztyndera SH 21Sean Armstrong CE 22Jamie Murphy FL 23Marcel Henn Coach: Kobus Potgieter 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.
Team details FB 15Mike Brown RW 14Nathan Earle OC 13Sam JamesIC 12Alex Lozowski LW 11Jonny MayFH 10George Ford (c)SH 9 Danny CareN8 8 Josh Beaumont OF 7 Sam Underhill BF 6 Chris Robshaw (c)RL 5 Nick Isiekwe LL 4 Charlie EwelsTP 3 Will Collier HK 2 Jack Singleton LP 1 Ellis Genge Replacements:HK 16George McGuigan PR 17Ross Harrison PR 18Jamal Ford-Robinson LK 19Will Spencer FL 20Tom Curry FL 21Mark Wilson SH 22Richard Wigglesworth FB 23Mike Haley Coach: Eddie Jones FB 15 Alex GoodeRW 14 Timoci NagusaOC 13 Yann David IC 12 François SteynLW 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper FH 10 Ian MadiganSH 9 Kahn Fotuali'i N8 8 Facundo Isa OF 7 Steffon Armitage BF 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c)RL 5 Jeremy ThrushLL 4 Patricio Albacete TP 3 Census Johnston HK 2 Richard Hibbard LP 1 Mikheil Nariashvili Replacements:HK 16 Schalk Brits PR 17 Chris King PR 18 WP Nel LK 19 Joe Tekori N8 20 Gillian Galan SH 21 Ruan Pienaar CE 22 Robbie Fruean WG 23 Horacio Agulla Coach: Vern Cotter Man of the Match: Tom Curry (England)
Touch judges: John Lacey (Ireland) Ben Whitehouse (Wales) Television match official: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
1 June
Team details FB 15 Peter Nelson RW 14 Mark Keane OC 13 Callum Patterson IC 12 Stuart McCloskeyLW 11 Craig GilroyFH 10 Brett HerronSH 9 Ruan Pienaar (c) N8 8 Roger Wilson (c) OF 7 Clive RossBF 6 Matthew ReaRL 5 Peter BrowneLL 4 Alan O'Connor TP 3 Rodney Ah You HK 2 Rob Herring LP 1 Andrew Warwick Replacements:HK 16 John Andrew PR 17 Kyle McCall PR 18 Ross Kane N8 19 Stephen Mulholland FL 20 Chris Henry SH 21 Paul Marshall SH 22 David Shanahan CE 23 Callum Smith PR 24 Ricky Lutton Coach: Les Kiss FB 15 Alex GoodeRW 14 David SmithOC 13 Waisea NayacalevuIC 12 Robbie FrueanLW 11 Horacio Agulla FH 10 Ian Madigan SH 9 Rory Kockott N8 8 Facundo IsaOF 7 Thierry Dusautoir (c)BF 6 Joe Tekori RL 5 Patricio Albacete LL 4 Paul Willemse TP 3 Mike Ross HK 2 Corey Flynn LP 1 Chris King Replacements:HK 16 Richard Hibbard PR 17 Vincent Pelo PR 18 Census Johnston LK 19 Jeremy Thrush FL 20 Chris Masoe SH 21 Kahn Fotuali'i FH 22 Brock James FB 23 Jean-Marcellin Buttin Coach: Vern Cotter Man of the Match: Thierry Dusautoir (Barbarians)
Touch judges: David Wilkinson (Ireland) Jonny Erskine (Ireland) Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
10 June
Team details FB 15Israel Folau RW 14Dane Haylett-Petty OC 13Tevita KuridraniIC 12Karmichael HuntLW 11Henry Speight FH 10Bernard Foley SH 9 Will Genia N8 8 Scott Higginbotham OF 7 Michael Hooper (c)BF 6 Ned HaniganRL 5 Adam ColemanLL 4 Sam Carter TP 3 Allan Alaalatoa HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau LP 1 Tom Robertson Replacements:HK 16Stephen Moore PR 17Toby Smith PR 18Sekope Kepu LK 19Rory Arnold FL 20Richard Hardwick SH 21Joe Powell FH 22Quade Cooper CE 23Reece Hodge Coach: Michael Cheika FB 15Kini MurimurivaluRW 14Timoci NagusaOC 13Albert Vulivuli IC 12Jale VatubuaLW 11Vereniki GonevaFH 10Ben VolavolaSH 9 Nikola Matawalu N8 8 Akapusi Qera (c)OF 7 Naulia Dawai BF 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu RL 5 Leone NakarawaLL 4 Tevita Cavubati TP 3 Peni Ravai HK 2 Sunia Koto LP 1 Campese Ma'afu Replacements:HK 16Talemaitoga Tuapati PR 17Joeli Veitayaki Jr. PR 18Kalivati Tawake LK 19Api Ratuniyarawa FL 20Viliame Mata N8 21Nemani Nagusa SH 22Serupepeli Vularika WG 23Benito Masilevu Coach: John McKee Man of the Match: Will Genia (Australia)
Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England) Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand) Notes: Ned Hanigan, Richard Hardwick, Karmichael Hunt, Joe Powell (all Australia), Viliame Mata, Kalivati Tawake and Jale Vatubua (all Fiji) made their international debuts.
Team details FB 15Ryuji NoguchiRW 14Akihito YamadaOC 13Timothy LafaeleIC 12Derek Carpenter LW 11Kenki FukuokaFH 10Jumpei Ogura SH 9 Fumiaki Tanaka N8 8 Amanaki Mafi OF 7 Yoshitaka TokunagaBF 6 Michael LeitchRL 5 Uwe Helu LL 4 Kotaro YatabeTP 3 Takuma Asahara HK 2 Shota Horie (c) LP 1 Koki Yamamoto Replacements:HK 16Yusuke Niwai PR 17Keita Inagaki PR 18Heiichiro Ito LK 19Yuya Odo FL 20Hendrik Tui SH 21Keisuke Uchida FH 22Yu Tamura FB 23Kotaro Matsushima Coach: Jamie Joseph FB 15Sabin Strătilă RW 14Tangimana FonovaiOC 13Paula KinikinilauIC 12Sione Faka'osileaLW 11Jack Cobden FH 10Florin VlaicuSH 9 Florin SurugiuN8 8 Mihai Macovei (c)OF 7 Viorel LucaciBF 6 Andrei Gorcioaia RL 5 Marius Antonescu LL 4 Johannes van HeerdenTP 3 Andrei Ursache HK 2 Otar Turashvili LP 1 Ionel Badiu Replacements:HK 16Andrei Rădoi PR 17Constantin Pristăviță PR 18Alexandru Țăruș LK 19Valentin Popârlan N8 20Vlad Nistor SH 21Tudorel BratuFH 22Luke Samoa WG 23Ionuț Dumitru Coach: Lynn Howells Touch judges: JP Doyle (England) Will Houston (Australia) Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand) Notes: Shota Horie (Japan) earned his 50th test cap. Derek Carpenter and Yusuke Niwai (both Japan) made their international debuts.
Team details FB 15Edoardo PadovaniRW 14Angelo EspositoOC 13Michele Campagnaro IC 12Tommaso Boni LW 11Leonardo SartoFH 10Tommaso Allan SH 9 Edoardo Gori (c) N8 8 Robert Barbieri OF 7 Maxime MbandaBF 6 Francesco MintoRL 5 Dean Budd LL 4 Marco Fuser TP 3 Simone Ferrari HK 2 Luca Bigi LP 1 Andrea Lovotti Replacements:HK 16Ornel Gega PR 17Federico Zani PR 18Pietro Ceccarelli LK 19Dries van Schalkwyk N8 20Braam Steyn SH 21Marcello Violi FH 22Carlo Canna CE 23Tommaso Benvenuti Coach: Conor O'Shea FB 15Duncan TaylorRW 14Damien HoylandOC 13Matt ScottIC 12Alex DunbarLW 11Tim Visser FH 10Finn Russell SH 9 Ali Price N8 8 Josh Strauss OF 7 Ryan WilsonBF 6 John Barclay (c)RL 5 Ben ToolisLL 4 Tim Swinson TP 3 WP Nel HK 2 Ross Ford LP 1 Allan Dell Replacements:HK 16Fraser Brown PR 17Gordon Reid PR 18Zander Fagerson FL 19Rob Harley FL 20Magnus Bradbury WG 21Rory Hughes SH 22Henry Pyrgos FH 23Peter Horne Coach: Gregor Townsend Man of the Match: Ben Toolis (Scotland)
Touch judges: Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Jordan Way (Australia) Television match official: Minoru Fuji (Japan) Notes: 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. Luca Bigi, Dean Budd and Federico Zani (all Italy) made their international debuts.
Team details FB 15Andries CoetzeeRW 14Raymond Rhule OC 13Jesse Kriel IC 12Jan SerfonteinLW 11Courtnall SkosanFH 10Elton JantjiesSH 9 Ross Cronjé N8 8 Warren Whiteley (c)OF 7 Oupa Mohojé BF 6 Siya KolisiRL 5 Franco Mostert LL 4 Eben EtzebethTP 3 Frans Malherbe HK 2 Malcolm Marx LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Replacements:HK 16Bongi Mbonambi PR 17Steven Kitshoff PR 18Coenie Oosthuizen LK 19Pieter-Steph du Toit FL 20Jean-Luc du Preez SH 21Francois Hougaard FH 22François Steyn WG 23Dillyn Leyds Coach: Allister Coetzee FB 15Brice Dulin RW 14Yoann HugetOC 13Henry ChavancyIC 12Gaël FickouLW 11Virimi VakatawaFH 10Jules Plisson SH 9 Maxime Machenaud N8 8 Louis Picamoles OF 7 Loann Goujon BF 6 Yacouba CamaraRL 5 Yoann Maestri (c)LL 4 Julien Le DevedecTP 3 Uini Atonio HK 2 Clément Maynadier LP 1 Jefferson Poirot Replacements:HK 16Camille Chat PR 17Eddy Ben Arous PR 18Mohamed Boughanmi FL 19Bernard Le Roux FL 20Kevin Gourdon SH 21Baptiste Serin FH 22Jean-Marc Doussain WG 23Vincent Rattez Coach: Guy Novès Man of the Match: Malcolm Marx (South Africa)