The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Scotland fix up fourth Autumn Test in Wales
Scotland have announced a second meeting with Wales in Cardiff in 2018 – just two weeks before the teams open the NatWest 6 Nations in the Principality Stadium.
The Scots will travel to Wales on November 3 to contest the “Doddie Weir Cup”, a new trophy named after the former Scotland and British Lions player who is raising funds to fight Motor Neurone Disease.
It’ll be Scotland’s first Autumn Test away from Murrayfield, and with home games against Fiji (November 10), South Africa (November 17) and Argentina (November 24) to follow, means the Scots will play four test matches in November for the first time.
Wales have been playing four games in November for a number of years – and been heavily criticised for playing outside World Rugby’s threeweek “international window” – but WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips underlined the series’ importance to them.
“We need four international matches in our autumn calendar in order to provide vital funds for the future sustainability of the game in Wales,” he said.
The WRU have donated the trophy which will be played for whenever the teams meet in Cardiff with “related contributions” to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, set up by the hugely popular international since he was diagnosed with the incurable disease last year.
The extra game means Scotland will play 12 tests in 2018, five at Murrayfield and five away from home. After the Six Nations, the Scots’ summer tour will take in test matches in Canada, the USA and Argentina.
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend said: “Facing Wales on the road is an exciting prospect for our players as we begin the final year of preparations for Rugby World Cup 2019.
“Four Test matches in four weeks is a very similar challenge to the one that we will face in Japan.
The Scots are likely to be without their English and French-based players for the fixture, as it falls outwith the recognised three week international window.