Release courtesy of Rugby International Marketing

WASHINGTON D.C. — In a special ceremony at the South African Embassy, the Welsh Rugby Union and South African Rugby Union announced today a rugby match between their world-renowned teams at Washington’s RFK Stadium on Saturday, June 2. Tickets for the match, which is being promoted by USA Rugby’s commercial arm, Rugby International Marketing (RIM), will go on sale beginning Tuesday, March 13.

“This is an exciting fixture for the WRU and for the national squad," Welsh Rugby Union Group CEO Martyn Phillips said. "It enables us to add a third fixture into the squad’s schedule as they continue with their preparations for the 2019 RWC and for the Union it is a great opportunity to showcase Wales and our game in the capital of the United States.

“The opportunity to expand the already great Welsh support base and Welsh brand is very exciting for us, especially in such a large demographic and audience as the U.S."

The Welsh and South African teams have had a long and storied rivalry. In the most recent installment last December, at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, the Welsh narrowly edged the Springboks for a 24-22 victory. Each nation has hosted the other at least once per year in recent memory, trading victories on each occasion. The June event, however, marks the first time they have squared off in the United States. 

Currently ranked No. 6 in the World Rugby rankings, Wales will make its first appearance on American soil since a contest with the United States in 2009, while No. 5 ranked South Africa will return after a 17-year absence, having defeated the Men’s USA Eagles in 2001, in Houston. Washington will serve as an ideal venue for the game, as it is the second largest metropolitan region in the country in terms of membership in USA Rugby, a hotbed of high school, college, and club rugby. 

“The match in Washington allows us to take Springbok rugby to America and to potentially expand the team’s appeal to very large audience,” said Jurie Roux, South African Rugby Union CEO. “Our research shows that the Springboks have a growing worldwide fan base and we see the match in Washington as ideal platform to tap into a market that offers huge possibilities for South African rugby, in the exciting American sporting area.”

The event also marks the first standalone match promotion for RIM. Created in 2015, RIM is the for-profit commercial arm of USA Rugby tasked with creating new revenue streams to fund the growth of rugby in America. 

RIM’s events portfolio includes all home test matches for the men’s and women’s USA national teams and the USA Rugby national championships for men’s and women’s collegiate rugby. The company is also responsible for organizing the quadrennial Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 tournament at San Francisco’s AT&T Park on July 20-22, the first rugby world championship of any form to be held in the United States. 

“We are very pleased to be hosting this signature event in the nation’s capital in June,” said David Sternberg, Rugby International Marketing CEO, “Not only are we bringing two established rugby nations together for an amazing match, we are also activating a large and passionate regional rugby community and accelerating the growth of the sport’s popularity in America as we head into the Rugby World Cup Sevens in July.”