Wales get their Kings date
A match between Wales and the Eastern Province Kings – as a warm-up to the tourist’s two-Test series against the Springboks – has been approved by the executive council of the South African Rugby Union.
The match will take place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday, June 10.
The Springboks meet Wales in Tests at Kings Park, Durban, on June 14 and at the Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, a week later (June 21).
Warren Gatland sees the match as a chance for final preparations ahead of the first Test against the Boks.
"It's great that we are able to confirm a midweek fixture against the Kings, in addition to our two Test matches," the Welsh coach, Gatland, said.
"The match in Port Elizabeth will allow us to get a game under our belts at the start of what will be a very tough tour and help us hit the ground running.
"We will be looking to take a slightly bigger squad and this gives us the opportunity to look at everyone and give the whole squad game time which is important ahead of next year's Rugby World Cup.
"It is an important tour for us and this game will give us the best start before the tests against the Springboks."
The Springboks will warm-up for the series against Wales by facing a World XV on June 7.
"We would like to thank the Eastern Province Kings and the South African Rugby Union for agreeing to this fixture and allowing us the best preparation ahead of the test series," said WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis.
"Our stated aim has been to take every opportunity to test ourselves at the highest level and this summer will be stern test for the squad.
"The midweek fixture not only allows Warren and his team to prepare for the rest of the tour but also provide useful insight into the strength of our squad as we look ahead to the 2015 Rugby World Cup."
Wales tour fixtures:
Tuesday, June 10: v Eastern Province Kings, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Saturday, June 14: v South Africa, Kings Park, Durban, 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Saturday, June 21: v South Africa, Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
