Every non-World Cup year, the Autumn Nations Series (previously known as the Autumn Internationals) is played out across the UK and Europe between the top nations, in a festival of international rugby. Lasting from late October until late November, the Autumn Nations Series sees the very best of the Northern and Southern Hemisphere go head-to-head – it’s the rugby event nobody wants to miss!
Fierce Rivalries are Awoken
Scheduled towards the start of the European domestic season, each nation typically has their strongest pick of players – ensuring some thrilling matches for the supporters. So when you watch New Zealand, England, Wales, France, Ireland, Scotland and South Africa – you can savour the tastiest clashes on offer; the most-experienced players in each position fronting up
with national pride on the line - often against their own club teammates – whilst exciting young talent make their debuts against Rugby World Cup winners from New Zealand and South Africa.
For each nation there’s a lot to play for. The Home Unions and France get to test themselves across 3-4 matches with the opposition changing each year to keep things interesting. However, the big-ticket games are against the All Blacks, who play the most-attractive style of rugby, and South Africa, who turn every rugby clash into a physical war, as well as Australia who bring unpredictable end-to-end running rugby. Argentina, Japan, and the Pacific Nations Fiji, Samoa and Tonga – each bring their own unique style infused with fierce national pride. Traditionally, the European nations use the Autumn Nations Series as a key piece of their preparation for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations, which follows soon after.
For Southern Hemisphere countries, there’s the chance of securing the much-coveted but rarely achieved ‘Grand Slam’ (when a touring team wins every game against the four home unions of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales). The last team to achieve this was New Zealand, back in 2010.
Celebrate the Spirit of Rugby
Thrilling international talents like Marcus Smith, Alex Dombrandt, Henry Arundell, Antoine Du Pont, Romain Ntamack, Jordan Larmour, Louis Rees Zammit, and Darcy Graham, can make their mark against brawn, grit and fearless jackaling from the likes of Ardie Savea, Pieter-Steph Du Toit, and Michael Hooper, as well as some of the speediest backs on the planet (Beauden Barrett & Cheslin Kolbe, for starters) and the superhuman South African bomb-squads from down south who’ve proven their ability to snatch victory even when all seems lost.
Where are the Autumn Nations Series Matches Played?
Each of the Northern Hemisphere’s iconic rugby venues will host Autumn Nations Series matches. In addition to the world-famous Home of Rugby – Twickenham Stadium, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Murrayfield in Edinburgh, the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, the Stadio Olimpico in Rome will all host memorable test matches. Many teams also use the Autumn Nations Series as a chance to play fixtures elsewhere in the country. France have played matches in Marseille and Bordeaux, Scotland and Italy have regularly played games at the San Siro in Milan as well as Treviso and Parma.
When can you next watch England in the Autumn Nations Series?
The next chance you’ll get to see England play live in the Autumn Nations Series will be in 2024 when they will host New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa on consecutive weekends at Twickenham. Elevate your experience by booking your official hospitality experience through Keith Prowse here.
