2014 Wales rugby union tour of South Africa


In June 2014, Wales toured South Africa, playing a 2-test series against the Springboks. In addition to the two Test matches, Wales also played a warm-up uncapped match against domestic club side. The three matches coincided with the June International Window, playing in the second and third week of the window.
Wales entered the test series on the back of 14 consecutive losses to South Africa; the last time Wales won against South Africa was in June 1999, the only time Wales have beaten South Africa. Wales were on 16 consecutive losses to the Southern Hemisphere greats, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, with the last time they beat a Southern Hemisphere great was in November 2008, and have not won an away match to the Southern Hemisphere greats since 1969.
The 14 consecutive losses to South Africa were extended to 16, while the 16 consecutive losses to the Southern Hemisphere greats were extended to 18 following a 2–0 series defeat. The only win of the tour came in the un-capped match against the, 34–12. During the test series, Wales and South Africa contested the Prince William Cup, which South Africa retained with the series victory. It was the seventh time South Africa won the trophy to Wales' zero.

Fixtures

Matches

Eastern Province Kings

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Wales

Pre tour, the Welsh Rugby Union announced that on 30 May, a Wales senior trial match would take place at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, the first of its kind in 14 years. It was the final chance to impress the Wales management ahead of the tour to South Africa. The failure of the Welsh regions to qualify for the 2013–14 Pro12 play-offs, meant for many of the players, there would be a five-week gap between the end of the season and the first Test. The teams were announced on 13 May, with the Probables Squad be coached by Rob Howley, and the Possibles Squad being coach by Robin McBryde. However, English based players were not released by the Aviva Premiership clubs as the match fell outside the international window, and the clubs do not have to release players according to the IRB regulations. This meant, the trail teams were made up solely of Welsh-based players and French based players released by their clubs.

Trail match

Note: Players in Bold denotes players that are internationally capped.

Touring squad

Head coach Warren Gatland named a 32-man squad following the trial match, for the 2-test series against South Africa. It included 19 players from the Probables squad, 10 players from the Possibles squad and 3 players that did not feature in the trial match.
Head Coach: Warren Gatland
Note: Caps and ages are to pre first test match - 14 June 2014.

South Africa

On 31 May, coach Heyneke Meyer named a 36-man squad for the 2-test series against Wales, and the single test match against Scotland, plus the uncapped match against a World XV side.
On 2 June, Damian de Allende was withdrawn from the squad due to injury. He was replaced by Marnitz Boshoff.
On 8 June, Trevor Nyakane was added to the squad to provide further cover in his respective position.
Head Coach: Heyneke Meyer
Note: Caps and ages are to pre first test match - 14 June 2014.
The following players were considered for selection, but not chosen due to injury or suspension.
Note: ‡ denotes players who are centrally contracted to the South African Rugby Union.

South African warm-up match

On 7 June, South Africa played an uncapped warm-up match against a World XV in Cape Town, in the lead up to the Welsh series.

Statistics

Key

Test series statistics