Rugby-Argentina fix dates and venues for tests against France

The three tests are in preparation for this year’s Rugby Championship, which the Pumas begin with two away clashes against New Zealand, starting in Wellington on Aug. 10 and then Auckland on Aug. 17. Argentina then host Australia at La Plata on Aug. 31 and Santa Fe seven days later before another home game against World Cup winners South Africa in Santiago del Estero on Sept.

Argentina will host France in two tests in July in their first run out since last year’s Rugby World Cup and also play a one-off international against neighbours Uruguay, the Argentine Rugby Union announced on Thursday. The French tourists will play the first test in Mendoza on July 6 and then a second encounter at the Velez Sarsfield stadium in Buenos Aires on July 13.

Argentina will then travel across the border to take on Uruguay at Maldonado on July 20. The three tests are in preparation for this year’s Rugby Championship, which the Pumas begin with two away clashes against New Zealand, starting in Wellington on Aug. 10 and then Auckland on Aug. 17.

Argentina then host Australia at La Plata on Aug. 31 and Santa Fe seven days later before another home game against World Cup winners South Africa in Santiago del Estero on Sept. 21. There is a return meeting in Nelspruit on Sept. 28. France’s last visit to Argentina was in 2016 when they lost 30-19 in the first test at Tucuman but bounced back to level the series with a convincing 27-0 victory six days later at the same venue.

Argentina’s last test against Uruguay was in 2015 and saw them win 36-14 away in Montevideo. Argentina have won all previous 39 tests against their neighbour. (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town)

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)