Wales are expected to play South Africa at Twickenham in June before embarking on a tour of Australia.
Yesterday, reports broke in South Africa that world champions the Springboks will face Warren Gatland’s side in London this summer. WalesOnline understands that negotiations have taken place between the Welsh Rugby Union and the South African Rugby Union, with the match likely to go ahead, but nothing has been finalized yet.
This is not a new initiative for the Springboks, who defeated New Zealand 35-7 in a Rugby World Cup run-up at Twickenham last August and lifted the William Webb Ellis Trophy seven weeks later. Given the large South African diaspora in London, this match will likely draw a large crowd.
sign up: For a full understanding of what’s really going on around all the big issues, get our new exclusive Inside Wales Rugby newsletter. This special offer gives you full access for just £10 a year instead of £40.
Principality Stadium hosts a number of concerts throughout June, with Pink, Taylor Swift and Foo Fighters performing on consecutive weeks.
read more: Wales vs Scotland player ratings, Gatland finds talisman after players go crazy at half-time
This is not the first time Wales have faced South Africa on a neutral ground, having defeated the Springboks 22-20 in Washington DC in 2018. Wales will then embark on a tour of Australia, with two Tests against the Wallabies in Melbourne and Sydney. The team is currently coached by former Ireland national team and All Blacks coach Joe Schmidt.
Gatland’s side recorded a record 40-6 victory over Eddie Jones’s Australia at the World Cup, but the Wallabies are likely to be a very different proposition under world-class manager Schmidt.
There is also a very real possibility that Wales will remain in Australia for the third Test against the developing nation.