WALES TEST
HERE NEXT YEAR IN DOUBT
The original itinerary for Wales WR WRXU WKH 3DFLåF ,VODQGV DQG LQclude a third test in Fiji next year is no longer part of the schedule, BBC Wales understands. Tests are scheduled in Samoa and Tonga in June, but the games could be moved to New Zealand. A contingency plan is in place to play the games in New Zealand, with Auckland the most likely venue given its large populations of Samoan and Tongan heritage. The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) say they want to play on the islands, but will pursue alternatives if guarantees over player welfare are not met. The sport’s governing body, World Rugby, helps tier two countries meet costs of hosting tier one nations. World Rugby helped with appropriate medical cover when New Zealand played Samoa in Apia in 2015. A delegation from World Rugby is scheduled to travel to Tonga and Samoa within the next fortnight to assess whether faciliWLHV LQ HDFK FRXQWU\ DUH åW IRU SXUSRVH Fans and travel companies are currently in a state of limbo, with hundreds having registered for the tour. :DOHV ODVW WRXUHG WKH 3DFLåF ,VODQGV LQ 1994. 7KH :58 VD\ WKH\ H[SHFW D åQDO GHFLsion to be made by the end of October. A spokesperson for the Samoan Rugby Union said: “At this stage we can’t comment as the match has not yet been conåUPHG E\ :RUOG 5XJE\Ù The Tongan Rugby Union has also been asked to comment, but has not yet UHVSRQGHG 7KH %ULWLVK DQG ,ULVK /LRQV tour New Zealand in June and July next year. Source: RNZI