(Other) Wednesday 23 November 2011
Shane Williams will play his final Test for Wales against the Wallabies
If you’ve started to feel those Rugby World Cup withdrawal symptoms now that almost a month has passed since RWC 2011 reached its climax, fear not – there is a cure.
Not only is Rugby World Cup 2015 a mere three years and 10 months away, but there’s a feast of international and world rugby to enjoy in the meantime.
Here’s a taste of what’s to come over the next few months, not to mention the Aviva Premiership and Top 14 competitions entering full swing:
25-26 November 2011
HSBC SEVENS WORLD SERIES
This weekend the 2011/12 version of the big international sevens competition gets underway in Australia with 16 national teams in action on the Gold Coast. The HSBC Sevens World Series then moves on to Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand, USA, Hong Kong, Japan and Scotland, before culminating in the final event in England next May.
Saturday 26 November 2011
BARBARIANS v AUSTRALIA
The Wallabies travel to Twickenham to take on the famous invitational XV that will be coached by World Cup-winning maestro Graham Henry and his assistant, and possible successor, Steve Hansen. The Baa-Baas side is also expected to contain five Rugby World Cup-winning All Blacks as well former champions Bryan Habana and Victor Matfield of South Africa.
ENGLAND WOMEN v NEW ZEALAND WOMEN
Twickenham hosts an intriguing double header with the Barbarians-Australia encounter followed by a repeat of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010 Final between England and New Zealand. The first of three Tests in the space of a week between the world’s top two women’s teams will be a match not to be missed if their last meeting is anything to go by.
Saturday 3 December 2011
WALES v AUSTRALIA
A week later the Australians take on Wales at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in a rerun of the World Cup’s Bronze Final, in what will be the legendary Welsh wing Shane Williams’ final international appearance.
Saturday 21 January 2012
HEINEKEN CUP – FINAL POOL MATCHES
It’s the last round of fixtures in the pool stages of arguably the biggest club competition in world rugby. Prepare for nail-biting climaxes across Europe. Pool 1 looks particularly tight, so events at Northampton, where last year’s runners-up face Munster, could be particularly dramatic.
4-5 February 2012
SIX NATIONS OPENING WEEKEND
The six-week festival of the best northern hemisphere rugby has to offer gets underway. The stand-out match from the opening set of fixtures is Ireland versus Wales in Dublin. If it’s anything like their quarter-final at RWC 2011, that will be one not to miss.
Friday 24 February 2012
SUPER RUGBY RETURNS
With the whole of New Zealand still celebrating, there should be quite an atmosphere at the opening fixture: Blues vs Crusaders. Richie McCaw might be still be recovering from foot surgery, but there will still be a whole host of men on display who got their hands on the Webb Ellis Cup.
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