2013 will be a great year for rugby supporters with some great sporting events taking place across the world. From the supporter tours, to the fast and furious sevens series, what better excuse do you need to travel the world and support your team at the same time.
RBS 6 Nations, Millennium Stadium, Wales, UK – 2 February-March 2013
RBS 6 Nations will kick-off on Saturday 2 February 2013, as Wales faces off against Ireland at the Millennium Stadium. This international rugby competition will feature six sides:
• England
• France
• Ireland
• Italy
• Scotland
• Wales
Each of these teams will compete for the title of European Champion and the Championship trophy. The matches will be held at some of the most popular stadiums in Europe including Twickenham in England, Stade de France in France, and Stadio Olimpico in Italy. With 25 overall wins Wales, the winner of the 2012 RBS 6 Nations, holds a record for the second most wins ever in this competition. With 26 overall wins, England can claim the most wins throughout the history of the competition.
Heineken Cup Final 2013, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland – Saturday 18 May 2013
The 2013 Heineken Cup Final will take place on 18 May 2013 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. This sold out event is easily one of the most highly anticipated club rugby competitions of the entire year. A projected 70,000 fans are expected to flock to the stadium to support their teams. The final will be the last competition in this 18th season of the Heineken Cup. Ireland’s Leinster made history at the Heineken Cup 2012 when they became the second team to ever win the Heineken Cup for two consecutive years. They will be back with a vengeance in 2013 seeking to become the first club to ever win for three consecutive years.
British and Irish Lions Tour of Australia 2013 – 1 June-6 July 2013
On Saturday, 1 June 2013, British & Irish Lions will take on The Barbarians at Hong Kong Stadium in Hong Kong. Following this highly anticipated Game, the Lions will begin their month-long tour through Australia. Other teams featured on the tour will include Western Force, the Queensland Reds, New South Wales Queensland Country, New South Wales, Waratahs, ACT Brumbies and the Melbourne Rebels.
The tour will culminate with three final test matches in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney where teams will compete for the Tom Richards Trophy. In 2001, the Lions made history with a record turnout of 56,605 adoring fans for their second Test in Melbourne. This year, expect nothing less than a record breaking turnout as fans come to see their favourite teams battle it out.
Sevens World Series 2012/13 – Dubai, Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Tokyo
The 14th annual HSBC Sevens World Series kicked off on 13 October 2012 in Australia. The best teams from around the world will compete in nine tournaments from October 2012 to May 2013. For the first time in history, the International Rugby Board (IRB) has allowed 15 teams to earn the title of “core team” instead of the usual 12. The 2012 line-up includes teams from:
• Argentina
• Australia
• Canada
• England
• Fiji
• France
• Kenya
• New Zealand
• Portugal
• Samoa
• Scotland
• South Africa
• Spain
• United States
• Wales
The IRB will also implement official rules concerning the promotion and relegation of core teams. This two-part qualifier will determine the core teams for the 2013-14 HSBC World Series.
Rugby World Cup Sevens Series, Moscow, Russia – 28-30 June 2013
The 6th Rugby World Cup Sevens Series will take place from 28-30 June 2013 in Moscow, Russia. Since its conception in Scotland in 1993, this much anticipated competition has been held every four years. Twenty four men’s teams and sixteen women’s teams will compete for the Melrose Cup. Although this event will coincide with the 2013 Lions Tour, committee officials are still expecting as many as 50,000 fans.
