The RFU have confirmed that England will play three Test matches at Twickenham Stadium in autumn 2021.
Eddie Jones and the squad will begin their campaign on 6 November next year against an emerging nation in rugby, with the exact opponent to be confirmed at a later date.
The following weekend Australia head to south west London in a repeat of last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final which England won 40-16. It will be the eighth time England have faced Australia under head coach Eddie Jones and the fourth time on home soil.
In the final match of the series, England will play South Africa on 20 November in what will be the first meeting between the sides since the Rugby World Cup 2019 final.
This also sees the Springboks back at Twickenham Stadium for the first time since 2018, England edging that game 12-11.
ENGLAND 2021 AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS AT TWICKENHAM STADIUM
- Saturday 6 November* – England v TBC emerging nation
- Saturday 13 November* – England v Australia
- Saturday 20 November* – England v South Africa
*date subject to confirmation
EDITORS PICKS:
- All Black legend Dan Carter ranks his five toughest opponents
- The current 36-man Lions squad, according to the bookies
- Piers Morgan picks his all-time greatest rugby XV
- Every Premiership club’s best player out of contract in 2021
Fans pick an XV of the Biggest Flops to Have Played for England
BACK-THREE
Fullback: Mark Van Gisbergen: Yes, he has a cap – only a fleeting one, as a late replacement for Mark Cueto against Australia in 2005 – but he does boast a 100% winning ratio in international colours, so you can’t knock that. His main strengths were dropping the high ball under limited pressure and getting gassed on the outside.
Winger: Barrie-Jon Mather: He became the first player to represent Great Britain in Rugby League and England in Union. His move to union was part funded by the RFU, who were embarking on a strategy of converting some of leagues best talent. However, Mather struggled to make an impact with Sale and moved back to Castleford in 2000. In spite of his poor form with Sale, Clive Woodward gave Mather his debut against Wales in the famous Grand Slam decider in 1999. However, Mather never played for England again after Wales won the game 32-31, following Scott Gibbs’ superb try.
Winger: Lesley Vanikolo: The Volcano’ stormed onto the scene for Gloucester, doing something ridiculous like scoring five tries on his debut against Leeds, before qualifying for England on residency grounds. International honours followed, with Vainikolo making his England debut against Wales in 2008. However, he failed to bring his try-scoring form to the international scene and was quickly dropped from Martin Johnston’s squad after winning five caps.
CENTRES:
Centre: Joel Tomkins – He began his League career with Wigan in 2005 and outside of a short stint with the Widnes Vikings in 2007, played with the Warriors until moving to Saracens in 2011. While Tomkins initially struggled to adapt to union, but his form during the beginning of the 2013/14 season saw him earn an England cap against Australia in November 2013. Although he went on to make two further international appearances, he looked completely out of his depth and returned to league soon after.
Centre: Sam Burgess: England, who fast-tracked Burgess into their World Cup squad in defiance of logic, Bath and the player himself each shoulder varying degrees of blame for arguably the greatest cross-code flop in history. We’re not saying he was an awful player, but the whole thing was a complete disaster.
