England face All Blacks in Autumn Nations Series
England will face New Zealand and two of their 2023 World Cup pool opponents as part of next year’s Autumn Nations Series.
Eddie Jones’ team kick off their 2022 autumn schedule against Argentina at Twickenham on November 6, followed by Japan six days later, with both countries in England’s World Cup group.
They then host New Zealand on November 19, which will be a first meeting with the All Blacks since England beat them in the 2019 World Cup semi-finals.
The series is completed by England facing reigning world championsSouthAfricaonNovember 26, the Rugby Football Union announced.
Head coach Jones said: “These fixtures will be a really important part of our preparation for the 2023 World Cup.
“It’s almost a mini World Cup in itself, and we are fortunate to have it less than a year before the tournament.
“It will be a good litmus test for the team to see where we are at, culminating in playing first and second in the world.”
*Jon Pett will leave his role as Great Britain’s head of paracycling to take over as performance director at Pentathlon GB.Pett,whojoinedBritishCyclingin2014havingpreviously held roles in table tennis and cricket, will succeed Jan Bartu, who recently announced his retirement after 23 years.
Pett moves to modern pentathlon at a turbulent time for the sport, with the world governingbodyhavingcontroversially removed riding from the Olympicprogrammefollowing negative headlines in Tokyo this summer and uncertainty over the future. Pett oversaw a medalrushinTokyoattheParalympics as Britain finished as the top cycling nation for a fourth straight Games.