The Wales national rugby union team toured North America in July 1997, playing two tests against the United States and one against Canada, as well as three tour matches across the two countries. Wales won all six matches on the tour, including a 94âÂÂ3 victory over an all-star team representing USA Rugby South in the opening game. They beat the United States in both Wilmington, North Carolina, and San Francisco, California, before beating Canada by the tour's narrowest margin (three points) in Markham, Ontario.
Wales named a weakened squad as their best and more experienced players were selected in the 1997 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa. Several uncapped players were included in the squad, and coach Kevin Bowring gave test debuts to full-back Kevin Morgan and prop Chris Anthony against the United States, and flanker Rob Appleyard and lock Steve Moore against Canada.
Head coach Kevin Bowring named a 30-man squad for Wales' tour of North America. Hooker Jonathan Humphreys, who had captained the team since September 1995, was left out of the squad, who were instead led by flanker Gwyn Jones. Several players were missing, having been called up to the British Lions squad for their tour to South Africa, including the two-time reigning Welsh Player of the Year, scrum-half Rob Howley. As a result, the Wales squad that travelled to North America had a youthful bias and featured several uncapped players, including Pontypridd full-back Kevin Morgan, who had recently received the Most Promising Player in Wales award.
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