TEST RUGBY THIS WEEKEND Saturday 7 June

07.06.2014
France v Australia in Brisbane (1^st Test)
South Africa XV v World XV in Capetown (Non test)
England v New Zealand in Auckland (1^st test)
Scotland v United States in Houston
Ireland v Argentina in Resistencia (1^st test)
Italy v Fiji in Suva
Japan v Canada in Vancouver (Pacific Nations Cup; North Conf.)
Samoa v Tonga in Apia (Pacific Nations Cup; South Conf.)
Austria v Bosnia Herzegovina in Tešanj (ENC 2C-2D Playoff)
Bermuda v Cayman Islands in Hamilton (Caribb. Champ.;League, North)
Guyana v Trinidad Tobago in Georgetown (Caribb. Champ., League, South)
Mexico v Jamaica in Kingston (Caribbean Champ.,Cup, North)
St Vincent & Grenadines v Curacao in Kingstown (Caribb. Champ.,Cup, South)
British Virgin Islands v St Lucia in Tortola (Caribbean Champ., Cup, South)

Briefly
There is the saying about ‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen..’. For the international test rugby calendar the month of June is madness but delightful madness. June is one of the windows for international test rugby and so there are dozens of fixtures around the globe.

France, England, Ireland and Wales tour down under whilst Scotland tours Canada, USA and Argentina. Italy tours the Pacific Islands and Japan. In addition Japan, Samoa, Fiji, Canada and the USA play for the Pacific Nations Cup.

Austria and Bosnia Herzegovina play the first of the ENC promotion-relegation playoffs (Latvia and Croatia playoff on 21 June-Denmark forfeited to Hungary) whilst no less than ten Caribbean nations play for their glory in the sun.

It is not possible for me to cover every game in depth. As a school teacher June is an assessment and report writing month (I have the same dilemma in November!) so that has to come first. I hope to cover three games each weekend.