2024 England rugby union tour of New Zealand

In July 2024, the England rugby union team toured New Zealand, where they played two tests against the New Zealand national team, a part of the 2024 Summer Internationals. On the way to New Zealand, England also played a match against Japan at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.

The tour was first reported by The Times in December 2022, shortly after England coach Eddie Jones was sacked and replaced by Steve Borthwick by the Rugby Football Union (RFU). Although Southern Hemisphere tours have typically been played on a three-test basis, as in the 2014 tour; the 2016 and 2022 tours of Australia; and the 2018 tour of South Africa, all Northern Hemisphere touring teams (with Scotland being an exception) returned to two-tests.

The tour was England's first since touring Australia in 2022, and their first tour of New Zealand since 2014. It was Steve Borthwick's first tour as coach of England. Borthwick was previously the England captain when they toured New Zealand in 2008, losing the series 2–0. It was also the first set of fixtures for New Zealand's new coach, Scott Robertson.

Fixtures

Squads

England

England named a 36-player touring squad on 10 June 2024.

⁽¹⁾ On 23 June 2024, Charlie Ewels was ruled out of the tests against New Zealand, after receiving a red card against Japan, which resulted in a two-match suspension. He was replaced in the England squad by Nick Isiekwe.

⁽²⁾ On 7 July 2024, Joe Marler was ruled out of the second test against New Zealand, after sustaining a foot injury during the first test match a day earlier. He was replaced in the England squad by Emmanuel Iyogun.

<small>Note: Ages, caps and clubs are as of 22 June 2024, the day of England's first test match of the summer series.</small>

New Zealand

New Zealand named a 32-player squad for the summer test series on 24 June 2024.

⁽¹⁾ On 8 July 2024, TJ Perenara was ruled out of the second test against England, after sustaining a knee injury during the first test match two days earlier. He was replaced in the New Zealand squad by Noah Hotham.

<small>Note: Ages, caps and clubs are as of 6 July 2024, the day of New Zealand's first test match of the summer series.</small>

Matches

Japan vs England

Notes:

• This was the first ever test match between the two countries to take place in Japan.
• Dylan Riley (Japan) was named in the starting line-up, but withdrew during the warm-up due to injury. He was replaced by Samisoni Tua, whose place on the bench was taken by Takuya Yamasawa.
• Tiennan Costley, Shinobu Fujiwara, Mamoru Harada, Takayoshi Mohara, Keijiro Tamefusa, Samisoni Tua, Kai Yamamoto, Yoshitaka Yazaki (all Japan) and Tom Roebuck (England) made their international debuts.
• Charlie Ewels became the first England player to receive two red cards in their test career.

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New Zealand vs England (1st test)

Notes:

• Fin Baxter and Ollie Sleightholme (both England) made their international debuts.

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New Zealand vs England (2nd test)

Notes:

• New Zealand retained the Hillary Shield.
• Cortez Ratima (New Zealand) made his international debut.
• George Furbank (England) was initially named to start at full-back, but was forced to withdraw prior to the match, due to a back injury. He was replaced by Freddie Steward

See also

• 2024 mid-year rugby union tests
• 2024 France rugby union tour of Argentina and Uruguay
• 2024 Ireland rugby union tour of South Africa
• 2024 Wales rugby union tour of Australia

References