Test match (rugby union)
Encyclopedia
Test match in rugby union
is a match recognised as being a full international match by at least one of the participating teams' governing bodies. It is an unofficial but widely used term in the sport.
Some teams do not represent a single country but their international games are still considered Test matches (for example the British and Irish Lions
and the Pacific Islanders
). Likewise some countries award caps for games between their full national teams and invitation teams like the Barbarians
. The first men's international game of rugby football - between Scotland
and England
- was played at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh
, the home ground of Edinburgh Academicals, on March 27, 1871. (This being six years before the first cricket test match, one year before the first association football international and twenty-four years before the first field hockey international.)
The first recorded use of the word in relation to sport occurs in 1861 when it was used, especially by journalists, to designate the most important (but at that stage non-international) games played as part of a cricket tour by an unofficial English team to Australia
and it is thought to arise from the idea that the matches were a "test of strength and competency" between the sides involved. When official and fully representative Australian and English cricket and rugby teams began touring each other's countries a decade or so later the term gradually began to be applied by journalists exclusively to the international fixtures on each tour, though this was not widespread until well into the 1880s.
Although the ICC
tightly controls the application of "test match" status for cricket, the International Rugby Board
(IRB) has no similar rules or regulations concerning the official awarding of "test match" or "full international" status in rugby union. In rugby union test match status and caps
may be awarded by either team's governing body regardless of the decision of their opponents.
Although both team's governing bodies do not need to recognise the match as a Test match for caps to be awarded, it is rare that they should disagree. The only existing example remaining in men's rugby concerns games played by the New South Wales Waratahs
against the New Zealand
All Blacks
in the 1920s. As there was very little rugby union played in Australia
outside of New South Wales
the Australian Rugby Union
retroactively awarded caps to the players from the 1920s Waratahs that played against the All Blacks, however the New Zealand Rugby Union has not done the same for All Blacks that played in those matches. Rugby's professionalism and widespread international media coverage ensures that it is almost inconceivable that Unions would disagree over the status of a game today.
On the other hand in women's rugby
matters are far less clear. The first women's "test" took place in 1982 between Netherlands and France, but the sport was not widely accepted or recognised by many existing national Unions or the IRB for many years, nor has it ever attracted significant media interest. Some unions do not officially recognise any tests played before they became responsible for the women's game - for example the French Union (FFR) does not list any games before 1989, and the IRB did not (until recently) recognise the first two World Cups.
Nor is the situation confined to history. Some countries - particularly England and France, but also occasionally other major nations - continue to this day to award caps based on the strength of the side they have selected, rather than make-up of the opposition or of the status of the tournament entered. As recently as December 2008, a game between England and an Irish President's XV was recorded as a "test match" by RFUW
even though their hosts and opponents insist that this was not the case. A similar difference of interpretation applies to a two match series between USA and Canada in 2007 when in games previously advertised as internationals the USA decided to field only development XVs. Canada count these games as test matches, the USA do not. Overall the status of perhaps 5% of women's test matches is unclear.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
is a match recognised as being a full international match by at least one of the participating teams' governing bodies. It is an unofficial but widely used term in the sport.
Some teams do not represent a single country but their international games are still considered Test matches (for example the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
and the Pacific Islanders
Pacific Islanders rugby union team
The Pacific Islanders rugby union team is an international rugby union team, started in 2004, that represents Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. While Niue and the Cook Islands are not members of the Pacific Tri-Nations competition, they did supply players to the squad for the Pacific Islanders' tour in 2004...
). Likewise some countries award caps for games between their full national teams and invitation teams like the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
. The first men's international game of rugby football - between Scotland
Scottish Rugby Union
The Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
and England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
- was played at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, the home ground of Edinburgh Academicals, on March 27, 1871. (This being six years before the first cricket test match, one year before the first association football international and twenty-four years before the first field hockey international.)
The first recorded use of the word in relation to sport occurs in 1861 when it was used, especially by journalists, to designate the most important (but at that stage non-international) games played as part of a cricket tour by an unofficial English team to Australia
English cricket team in Australia in 1861-62
An England cricket team toured Australia in 1861–62. This was the first-ever tour of Australia by any overseas team and the second tour abroad by an English team, following the one to North America in 1859.-Organisers:...
and it is thought to arise from the idea that the matches were a "test of strength and competency" between the sides involved. When official and fully representative Australian and English cricket and rugby teams began touring each other's countries a decade or so later the term gradually began to be applied by journalists exclusively to the international fixtures on each tour, though this was not widespread until well into the 1880s.
Although the ICC
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
tightly controls the application of "test match" status for cricket, the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
(IRB) has no similar rules or regulations concerning the official awarding of "test match" or "full international" status in rugby union. In rugby union test match status and caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
may be awarded by either team's governing body regardless of the decision of their opponents.
Although both team's governing bodies do not need to recognise the match as a Test match for caps to be awarded, it is rare that they should disagree. The only existing example remaining in men's rugby concerns games played by the New South Wales Waratahs
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
against the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
in the 1920s. As there was very little rugby union played in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
outside of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
the Australian Rugby Union
Australian Rugby Union
The Australian Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Australia. It was founded in 1949 and is a member of the International Rugby Board the sport's governing body. It consists of eight member unions, representing each state and territory...
retroactively awarded caps to the players from the 1920s Waratahs that played against the All Blacks, however the New Zealand Rugby Union has not done the same for All Blacks that played in those matches. Rugby's professionalism and widespread international media coverage ensures that it is almost inconceivable that Unions would disagree over the status of a game today.
On the other hand in women's rugby
Women's international rugby union
Women's rugby union has a history going back to the late 19th century but it was not until 1982 that the first international fixture took place. The match was organised in connection with the Dutch Rugby Union's 50th anniversary...
matters are far less clear. The first women's "test" took place in 1982 between Netherlands and France, but the sport was not widely accepted or recognised by many existing national Unions or the IRB for many years, nor has it ever attracted significant media interest. Some unions do not officially recognise any tests played before they became responsible for the women's game - for example the French Union (FFR) does not list any games before 1989, and the IRB did not (until recently) recognise the first two World Cups.
Nor is the situation confined to history. Some countries - particularly England and France, but also occasionally other major nations - continue to this day to award caps based on the strength of the side they have selected, rather than make-up of the opposition or of the status of the tournament entered. As recently as December 2008, a game between England and an Irish President's XV was recorded as a "test match" by RFUW
Rugby Football Union for Women
The Rugby Football Union for Women is the governing body for women's rugby union in England. Its headquarters are at Twickenham Stadium, London.-History:Women's rugby union was first played seriously in Great Britain in the late 1970’s...
even though their hosts and opponents insist that this was not the case. A similar difference of interpretation applies to a two match series between USA and Canada in 2007 when in games previously advertised as internationals the USA decided to field only development XVs. Canada count these games as test matches, the USA do not. Overall the status of perhaps 5% of women's test matches is unclear.
See also
- History of rugby union: First international game
- List of rugby union terms
- Women's international rugby unionWomen's international rugby unionWomen's rugby union has a history going back to the late 19th century but it was not until 1982 that the first international fixture took place. The match was organised in connection with the Dutch Rugby Union's 50th anniversary...