Wales are set to tour Australia in 2024 in what could be the last of the traditional northern hemisphere visits Down Under.
The Times reports the Welsh will arrive for at least two Tests with an optional third against Australia, or an emerging nation from the region.
With no tours planned for next year due to the World Cup in September, England’s next tour will also be in 2024 – to face the All Blacks in New Zealand, a huge mission for new coach Steve Borthwick.
Ireland will visit South Africa, Scotland are set to play in the Pacific Islands, France will head to Argentina and Italy will go to the USA and Canada.
The following season is the British and Irish Lions visit to Australia, and post that there are plans – yet to be locked in – for a Nations Championship that will likely see the end of the traditional three Test tours in the Australian winter.
If the Nations Championship is instigated it is likely that teams will play multiple nations across July and November in a league format, rather than a touring one.
The Times reported that the 2024 tours might only be two Tests rather than three given they follow a World Cup year – to lessen the load on players. They report there is option to plan an extra Test “against an emerging nation”.
Wales last toured Australia in 2012 as the defending Six Nations champions. The Wallabies, who were holders of the 2011 Tri-Nations title won all three Tests, extending Wales’ run of defeats on Austrlaian soil to 43 years.
England have not played in New Zealand since 2014, when Stuart Lancaster was the head coach and they lost the series 3-0. They have only played the All Blacks three times in the past eight years.
England also lost both Tests on a NZ tour in 2008 but tasted success in a one-off Test in 2003 before the World Cup win.
Former Wallabies fullback Israel Folau has scored a quick-fire hat-trick of tries in the second round of Japanese club rugby.
In his second season in Japan, 73-Test veteran Folau bagged his three tries in the space of 11 minutes before being substituted midway through the second half.
His Urasayu D-Rocks team continued their unbeaten season start in second division with a 68-17 thrashing of Shimizu Kotu Blue Sharks.
A successor to Folau as Wallabies fullback, Tom Banks scored his first try in Japanese club rugby as his MIE Honda demolished Kamaishi Seawaves 75-15 in another second division match.
In the top division, ex-Wallabies coach Robbie Deans’s Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights were hard pressed but extended one of the most remarkable streaks in professional rugby.
A 79th minute converted try enabled them to beat Shizuoka Blue Revs 15-14, notching their 34th straight win in a streak dating back to the 2019 playoffs.
Two missed conversions in the last five minutes by Wallabies five eighth Bernard Foley proved costly as his Kubota Spears Tokyo drew 27-27 with Yokohama Canon Eagles.
Although he succeeded with four penalty goal attempts, Foley was unable to convert any of Kubota’s three tries.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
yes, we know that Silver Lake funds the AB's
In brief
Guest
He’s a top bloke and someone who in any other era would have been celebrated for his good character
In brief
Guest
Folau’s kick off regathers were a game changer and he was great at diffusing high balls in general play. The biggest issue was the wallaby playmakers inability to put attacking kicks his way
In brief
Guest
Unfortunately the sheep believe being a Christian is bad. Islam, which has even more extreme views is good. How do they know? Dictator Dan and the woke brigade said so
Muglair
Roar Rookie
I used to look for Izzy whenever a try was scored. Rarely near the play, which is unusual for a player who could tackle.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Still waiting for someone to tell their story about what a terrible person he was to them personally. Respectful and Christian person. Five minutes of fame for someone, anyone.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Your statement that NZ funds itself by big appearance money is simply false. No more so than England or SA or any other side.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
To long to answer Brendan. What I know is that money talks and plenty want to play the ABs. Also why do you think NZR reintroduced the NZ XV. It wasn't as a trial team, it makes money. All teams get money from a test championship.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
In order for the Nations League to work the top 24 nations will have assigned games in a specific window. With URC games mattering I don't see SA playing NZ outside the window if their bills are paid. The England game this year cost Everitt his job. All the T2 nations will have more money so will they see giving some of it to NZ as a good investment for a one off game, outside of the USA and Japan the answer seems to be no. So who does NZ play in these games and will the other teams be missing all their OS players, maybe Oz. NZR would be better advised to make SR a commercial product and keep 150 professional players in NZ rather than only look to top up the top 50 players wages through test fees. If the Nations League comes in then SKY NZ will need to bid for it which goes into a pot to be shared out, this is good for OZ who bring in less, but bad for NZ who get alot from playing tests and makes up the majority of the $100m we hear alot about. Euro countries already sell their leagues, cups, 6Ns and other tests separately so know what they will lose/win. If WR are selling 7-8 AB tests against the best teams will that affect their income for whats left over, it may make the recent RA holdup seem small. If the funding to the 6 T2 nations 12 T3 nations allows Europe to run another professional league like the URC then more winners for Europe and grows the market. For Oz and NZ its unclear what market it would grow. In a league teams generally all get the same fee for taking part plus prize money, do you think NZR and RA will sustain themselves if they must rely on gate receipts, NZR funds itself on its large appearance fees at test level that would not be payable by the 6N and Japan in a nations league.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
That's the advantage of being able to afford lots of teams. If J1 has 12 teams that were 50% OS of the match day squad, they still would have more home based players than most countries. J1 moved to to be on the same time as SR so they already going down that route. As its footprint grows so will the wages and sadly SR isn't that high a bar to get over.
AndyS
Guest
The JRFU and clubs are pretty realistic about where they are now. The original idea a couple of years ago was maybe the League One winner and a composite side to take on the SR teams, but things may have moved on since. In which case SR better be careful they aren't actively encouraging their own demise...the Japanese clubs know where they are now, and if twelve first division teams all try to be competitive with the top SR teams it is going to take a lot of players and a significant relaxing of the overseas player rules. And where do people think those players are going to come from? Deans for instance has openly talked about his shopping list of players, and if he has one despite being his team being top of their pile, the other teams lists will only be even longer.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
The word "not" is missing from my reply. Not a fan of texting my replies on this phone sometimes! :unhappy:
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Fairly sure in an interleague competition similar to the champions cup they would expected to be treated equally. At test level such as RC they would be junior partner but not at club level especially as they have the money. It might be why it still hasn't happened even though SRP needs to up its revenue.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
You are forgetting that tests can be organised outside of test windows. ABs are already looking at Exibition matches in Qutar and have a good relationship with USA too
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I think he was working hard on those things Ozinsa. He was a naturally gifted runner/attacker and had to work on other not so natural skillsets. I enjoyed watching him play. Never perfect and a bit frustrating at times but still enjoyable to watch.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
No, BNHF. They would be junior partners. They would not see themselves as such nor would the others see them as such.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Nations league, please no. It devalues the WC and will not be the silver bullet WR and the RC think it will be. Gone will be the fees for the ABs or 50% of gate for out of window games. WR will have to pay each T1 nation a fee to take part and then prize money. RC will probably have to give spots to Japan and Fiji if its to work or they will not sign up. How much of the $100m NZ tv deal would be gone if the July and November tests were not part of the package and they only played SA and Oz once in the RC. 6N will not sign over the 6Ns so that money will not be part of the deal as WR dont have a $4.5b to buy it (going off CVC deal). WR would have to show the 6N that they will make more from the league than their current Autumn Series deal which they failed to do last time. Autumn Series can be easily turned into a 3/4 week cup and just give $1m to each union taking part and the 6Ns keep the rest and attendances. Can't see CVC just letting WR remove a competition it owns a share in like the Autumn Aeries unless they get a stake in the nations league. Not sure NZR can sign up to that if all the AB revenue is controlled by CVC and SL have no outside window games left to play. If the 6Ns play the RC teams every year what's the point. Interesting also the July tests are taking a hit, is it down to cost of hosting or the 6Ns aren't bothered.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Generous
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
That is a good stat on Robbie Dean. Never go back to an old girlfriend but maybe have him be a waterboy or something. When J2 can afford players deemed to expensive for SR you know you are up against it on the money side. Banks though may not get the standard he needs in J2 compared to J1. Quicker SRP make a crossover league the better for RA and NZR. Champions cup winner gets €1m don't see why the Pacific winner couldn't be given $1m by a sponsor.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Losing the third game for the SH either means less money for the RC nations or they make a loss on one of the games so are happy to get rid of it. Of they 2100 players included in the 42 teams squads I doubt losing a test match matters to them. Those 2100 players just want to show their coach what they can do. No point paying players if they don't get games.