Wales to play big three again

Wales will play the southern hemisphere’s “big three” again in the 2014 end of year internationals, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) announced on Wednesday.World champions New Zealand, South Africa and Australia will all visit the Millennium Stadium in November together with Fiji. Wales lost to both South Africa and Australia  last month, part of a woeful record of 22 defeats in their last 23 tests against the Sanzar (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia) trio under coach Warren Gatland.

They’ve suffered 18 consecutive defeats by the big three since beating Australia back in 2008, with the Wallabies winning their last nine internationals against 2015 World Cup pool rivals Wales, the reigning Six Nations champions.

Next year’s matches against New Zealand, Australia and Fiji will all take place during the International Rugby Board’s “window” for November tests, with South Africa, as was the case with the Wallabies this year, the fourth match of the programme.

All four fixtures are subject to IRB approval.
“We have consistently said, if you want to be the best, you have to play the best and the 2014 autumn schedule reconfirms that commitment,” said WRU chief executive Roger Lewis in a statement issued Wednesday.

“We have just witnessed another exhilarating, tough autumn series and next year will be ideal preparation for the squad ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

“We will only have 12 matches in total in the run-up to our opening game at the tournament, so we must secure every opportunity to test ourselves at the highest level.”

Meanwhile, English clubs are set for at least one season without any European rugby after they confirmed their refusal to take part in a  revamped Heineken Cup next season, despite last week’s decision by their French counterparts to return to the fold.

The chairmen of the 12 Premiership clubs, as well as representatives from Leeds and Bristol, met in London on Thursday.
“The English clubs have unanimously re-confirmed their position. Having served notice in June 2012, they will not participate in any competitions run by ERC (European Rugby Cup) from 2014-15 season,” a statement said.-Supersport.