Full International Tours are back!

Thursday 20 May 2010
Published By: Ben Welch
International Rugby > England

Following a new directive by the IRB to re-introduce longer end of year tours, South Africa have announced that they will face England in the first of a series of lengthy end of season tours by the northern hemisphere unions.

England will travel to South Africa in a three test series in 2012 and this brings about a return to the longer touring schedules not seen outside of the Lions tours for many years.

The IRB also announced that Ireland in 2016 and France in 2017 will also tour South Africa before England return again for a second full series tour in 2018.

South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins said "Everyone in rugby has been yearning for a return to old-style tours and the IRB has delivered.

"Both the tourists and the host nations in the southern hemisphere were keen to see this change brought about.