The 2018 end of year rugby union tests, also referred to as the Autumn internationals in the Northern Hemisphere, were a number of

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the Comparison of rugby league and rugby union, two codes of ru ...

test matches played during October and November, primarily involving countries from the Northern Hemisphere hosting those from the Southern Hemisphere. Also involved in matches are those from second-tier teams. These international games count towards

World Rugby World Rugby is the world governing body for the sport of rugby union. World Rugby organises the Rugby World Cup every four years, the sport's most recognised and most profitable competition. It also organises a number of other international rug ...

's ranking system, with a team typically playing from two to four matches during this period.

Matches

October

---- Notes: *

Sonny Bill Williams Sonny Bill Williams (born 3 August 1985) is a New Zealand heavyweight boxer, and a former professional rugby league and rugby union player and as of recently is working for Stan Sports. He is only the second person to represent New Zealand in ...

(New Zealand) earned his 50th test cap. *

Sekope Kepu Sekope Kepu (born 5 February 1986) is an Australian professional rugby union player. He is a prop and currently plays for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He has previously played for Australian club New South Wales Waratahs, the French club Borde ...

(Australia) became the ninth Australian to earn his 100th test cap and the first in his position for his country. * New Zealand completed a 3-0 whitewashing of Australia for the first time since 2016.

2/3 November

Notes: * Hiroshi Yamashita (Japan) earned his 50th test cap. * Jamie Henry,

Isileli Nakajima Nakajima Isileli (中島イシレリ) (born 9 July 1989) is a Tongan-born Japanese rugby union player who generally plays as a prop represents Japan internationally and plays for Kobelco Steelers in the Japanese Top League. Nakajima made h ...

(both Japan),

George Bridge George Crispin Bridge (born 1 April 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as an outside back for in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and for the in the international Super Rugby competition. Bridge made his inter ...

Brett Cameron Brett Donald Cameron (born 4 October 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player. A first five-eighth, Cameron plays for at a provincial level and the in the Super Rugby competition. He made his debut for the New Zealand national side, the All ...

Mitchell Drummond Mitchell David Drummond (born 15 February 1994) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a halfback for in the Bunnings NPC and the in the Super Rugby competition. Early career Born and raised in Nelson in the South Isla ...

, Gareth Evans, Dillon Hunt, Tyrel Lomax, Dalton Papalii and Matt Proctor (all New Zealand) made their international debuts. * New Zealand gave debuts to eight players, their highest number since 1986 when 11 players debuted against

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

. * Japan's 31 points was their highest score against New Zealand, surpassing the 17 points scored in 1995. ---- ---- Notes: * Jarrod Evans, Luke Morgan (both Wales) and Darcy Graham (Scotland) made their international debuts. * Wales won the first ever contest of the Doddie Weir Cup. * Wales won their opening 'Autumn Internationals' match for the first time since beating

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Moldova to the east, a ...

40–3 in

2002 File:2002 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 2002 Winter Olympics are held in Salt Lake City; Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her daughter Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon die; East Timor gains independence from Indonesia and ...

, and they gained their first opening win at the Millennium Stadium since beating

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono Island, Manono an ...

50–6 in 2000. ---- Notes: * Zach Mercer and Ben Moon (both England) made their international debuts. * With this win and the 25–10 victory in June 2018, England won back-to-back matches against South Africa for the first time since their November

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

and 2006 victories. ---- Notes: * Ross Byrne, Will Addison (both Ireland), Jimmy Tuivaiti and

Johan Meyer Johann Heinrich Casper Meyer (also known as Johan and John Henry Casper Meyer) (??-1901) was a German immigrant to Queensland and a pioneer of the Gold Coast region. Johan Meyer arrived in Australia from Germany around 1854 on the Aurora which ...

(both Italy) made their international debuts. ----

5–10 November

Notes: * Roman Khodin, Dmitry Perov, Daniil Potikhanov (all Russia), Janry du Toit, Prince ǃGaoseb and

Adriaan Ludick Adriaan Ludick (born ) is a Namibian rugby union player for South African side the in the Currie Cup and the Rugby Challenge. His regular position is lock. Ludick made his international debut for in 2018, in their end-of-year match against ...

(all Namibia) made their international debuts. * Yuri Kushnarev became the first Russian player to earn 100 caps. * Evgeny Matveev (Russia) earned his 50th test cap. * This was the first meeting between the two nations hosted by Russia. ---- Notes: * This was the first meeting between the two nations since 2003. * Zurab Dzneladze (Georgia) made his international debut. ---- Notes: * Sam Skinner (Scotland),

Mesulame Dolokoto Mesulame Vuwai Dolokoto (born 21 January 1995) is a Fiji international rugby union player. He played for the Glasgow Warriors in the Pro14 competition. Rugby Union career Professional career He also trained with the Super Rugby side Brumbi ...

and

Setariki Tuicuvu Seta Tuicuvu (born 7 September 1995 in Fiji) is a Fijian rugby union player who plays for Toulon in the French Top 14. His playing position is fullback Fullback or Full back may refer to: Sports * A position in various kinds of football, in ...

(both Fiji) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * New Zealand retained the Hillary Shield. ---- ---- Notes: * This was Wales' first win over Australia since their 21–18 victory in 2008, ending a 13-match winning streak for Australia over the Welsh, to claim the

James Bevan Trophy The James Bevan Trophy is a rugby union trophy which was created in 2007, and named after James Bevan, the Welsh Australian who was the first ever captain of the Wales rugby union team in 1881. The trophy was established after a decision on 10 Ma ...

. ---- Notes: * David Ainuu, Devereaux Ferris,

Gannon Moore Gannon Moore (born June 1, 1990) is an American rugby union player who plays for the United States men's national team and the Utah Warriors in Major League Rugby (MLR). Moore has previously played for North Harbour in the Mitre 10 Cup, t ...

(all United States), Raymond Niuia and Ben Nee-Nee (both Samoa) made their international debuts. * This was the United States' first win over Samoa, winning their first test against a Pacific Nation since May 1999. ---- Notes: * Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, Rodrigo Bruni and Lucio Sordoni (all Argentina) made their international debuts. * Ireland retained the

Admiral Brown Cup The Admiral William Brown Cup (in es, Copa Almirante Brown) is an international rugby union competition contested between and . It was first held on 16 November 2012 at the Aviva Stadium. The trophy is named after Admiral William Brown, the Iri ...

. ---- ---- ---- Notes: * This was the first match played by the Māori All Blacks in South America since touring Argentina in 1988. * Matteo Dell’Acqua and Devon Müller (both Brazil) made their international debuts.

16/17 November

Notes: * Tudor Boldor, Marius Iftimiciuc,

Alexandru Savin Alexandru Savin (born 12 February 1995) is a Romanian rugby union football player. He plays as a prop for professional SuperLiga club CSM București. Club career Alexandru Savin played for SuperLiga club, CSM București, for the 2016–17, 201 ...

(all Romania) and Nick Boyer (United States) made their international debuts. * With this win, and Italy's loss to Australia, USA move to 13th on the

World Rugby Rankings The World Rugby Rankings (formerly the IRB Rankings) is a ranking system for national teams in rugby union, managed by World Rugby, the sport's governing body. There are separate men's and women's rankings. The teams of World Rugby's member nation ...

, their highest ever position. * The United States reclaim the Pershing Cup, who had held it since the teams' previous meeting in 2016. ---- Notes: * Manuel Ardao, Guillermo Pujadas (both Uruguay) and Eroni Sau (Fiji) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * Jake Gordon (Australia) made his international debut. ---- Notes: * Tedo Abzhandadze,

Beka Gigashvili Beka Gigashvili ( ka, ბექა გიგაშვილი; born 17 February 1992) is a Georgian rugby union player. His position is prop, and he currently plays for RC Toulonnais in the Top 14 and the Georgia national team. Rugby career ...

and Guram Gogichashvili (all Georgia) made their international debuts. *

Tamaz Mchedlidze Tamaz Mchedlidze (born 17 March 1993 in Georgia) is a former Georgian rugby union player. He played at wing and centre and was able to cover the back row. Club career Mchedlidze began his rugby career in Tbilisi with the club 'Universite ...

(Georgia) earned his 50th test cap. ---- Notes: * Jonah Holmes (Wales) and Maʻafu Fia (Tonga) made their international debuts. * Liam Williams (Wales) earned his 50th test cap. * This was Wales' biggest winning margin over Tonga, surpassing the 44-point difference set in 2001. ---- Notes: * Mickael de Marco, Tobias Francis,

Lucas Levy Lucas or LUCAS may refer to: People * Lucas (surname) * Lucas (given name) Arts and entertainment * Luca Family Singers, also known as "lucas ligner en torsk" * ''Lucas'' (album) (2007), an album by Skeletons and the Kings of All Cities * ''L ...

, Lucas Rubio, Richard Stewart (all Spain), Jason Benade, Henrique Olivier, Chad Plato and Wihan von Wielligh (all Namibia) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * Joe Cokanasiga and Ted Hill (both England) made their international debuts. * George Ford (England) earned his 50th test cap. * This was the first meeting between the two teams to be held in England, and outside of a

Rugby World Cup The Rugby World Cup is a men's rugby union tournament contested every four years between the top international teams. The tournament is administered by World Rugby, the sport's international governing body. The winners are awarded the Webb ...

. ---- ---- Notes: * Augusto Böhme, Tomás Contreras and

Marcelo Torrealba Marcelo Diego Torrealba Otero (born 6 May 1996) is a Chilean professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for Super Rugby Americas club Selknam and the Chile national team Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a coun ...

(all Chile) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * This was Ireland's first home win over New Zealand. ---- Notes: * Mathieu Bastareaud,

Rabah Slimani Rabah Slimani (born 18 October 1989) is a French rugby union player who can play on both sides of the scrum; tight head prop and loose head prop, and he currently plays for ASM Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14. Career Slimani first discovered rugb ...

(both France),

Julián Montoya Julián Montoya (born 29 October 1993) is an Argentine rugby union player currently playing for the Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby, the top domestic level of rugby union. He plays as a hooker. Montoya played for Club Newman dom ...

and Javier Ortega Desio (both Argentina) earned their 50th test caps.

24 November

---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----

1 December

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rugby Union, End-of-year

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

End-of-year rugby union internationals The autumn internationals, November internationals, end-of-year tests, and spring internationals/tour for Australia and New Zealand, are men's rugby union Test matches that are contested around November each year. It is organised by World Rugby. Te ...

October 2018 sports events in Asia October 2018 sports events in Europe November 2018 sports events in Europe November 2018 sports events in South America December 2018 sports events in Europe