What are the Rugby Summer Series?
The Rugby Summer Series (also referred to as Summer Internationals or World Cup Warm Ups) are a set of international rugby fixtures that are played in July/August in the build up to the Rugby World Cup in the autumn of that year.
The Rugby Summer Series will see some of world’s best rugby teams compete against each other in a series of international friendlies. Expect high-octane rugby, vocal supporters and packed stadiums enjoying top international rugby under the summer sun.
Who play in the Rugby Summer Series?
The fixture list for the Rugby Summer Series can vary with new chapters with old rivals to showdowns with less familiar opponents, all of which makes the Rugby Summer Series even more intriguing.
Typically, in a Rugby World Cup year, England will play 2-4 matches against other similarly ranked opponents. In recent Rugby World Cup cycles they have played on a home and away basis. England will do this in August 2023 when they travel to Cardiff to play Wales before hosting them a week later at Twickenham on 12 August. They did this prior to the 2011 and 2019 Rugby World Cups.
The Rugby Summer Series also gives an opportunity to smaller rugby nations to get experience playing against more established nations. In 2021, England hosted the USA and Canada at Twickenham in two high scoring affairs.
Rugby in the summer sunshine
Rugby union is traditionally a winter sport, played between September and May with the main international fixtures taking place in the Autumn Nations Series in November and the Guinness Six Nations in February/March.
The warm and sunny weather in the Rugby Summer Series allows teams to express themselves on the pitch more, freeing them from the shackles of the cold and wet weather in the winter months. Summer rugby tends to be a lot faster and easier on the eye as players have fewer games meaning more intensity can be brought into summer fixtures.
Staking a claim
Rugby Summer Series matches are the often the final audition for players wanted to guarantee their place at the upcoming Rugby World Cup. Over the last 4 years since the last Rugby World Cup in Japan, countries have been experimenting with new players and different combinations, and the 2023 Summer Series will be the last chance for many players either on the fringes of previous match day squads, young ‘bolters’ with next to know international experience or ‘wise old heads’ who have been out of the picture to make an impact a book themselves on the flight to France for the Rugby World Cup in September.
Current England internationals Lewis Ludlam and Joe Marchant made their England debuts in the 2019 Summer Series game against Wales.
When can I next watch England live?
The next chance you’ll get to see England play will be the 2023 Summer Series at Twickenham Stadium where they will face Wales and Fiji. Elevate your experience by booking your official hospitality experience through Keith Prowse here.
