The Rugby World Cup is just around the corner, meaning Guinness Six Nations sides will be facing off once more in a series of warm-up matches.
With England drawn against France and Ireland battling Scotland in the pool stages, the players are being put through their paces in training camps across Europe.
But before each team heads for the Land of the Rising Sun, they play a series of warm-up matches.
The matches are also a perfect opportunity to see your favourite Guinness Six Nations stars in action – click the links below for ticketing information from each Union.
Wales head to this summer’s Rugby World Cup in fine fettle, reigning Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam champions and riding the crest of a wave.
Warren Gatland’s men are currently on a record-breaking winning run, their triumph over Ireland their 14th on the bounce.
In order to ensure they are ready, Wales will face off against England on two occasions, then twice more against Ireland.
August 11: England v Wales (Twickenham)
August 17: Wales v England (Principality Stadium)
August 31: Wales v Ireland (Principality Stadium)
September 7: Ireland v Wales (Aviva Stadium)
Having been captured cheering on the country’s cricketers during their World Cup, England’s rugby stars will be desperate to emulate their success when they head to Japan later this year.
Eddie Jones’ side are among the front-runners to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for the second time, and the England head coach will be confident the 2003 winners can improve on their pool-stage exit of four years ago.
England will play four matches to prepare for the tournament, starting with a double header against Wales before clashes with Ireland and Italy.
August 11: England v Wales (Twickenham)
August 17: Wales v England (Principality Stadium)
August 24: England v Ireland (Twickenham)
September 6: England v Italy (St James’ Park)
Conor O’Shea will try to lead Italy to an historic qualification for the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup for the first time in September.
The Italians have taken part in every tournament, but ended up third in their group each time, except in 1999.
Despite the five defeats in the Guinness Six Nations this year, O’Shea’s men have a lot of reasons for optimism after pushing Ireland, Scotland, France and Wales to the limit.
And to prepare for the World Cup, the Azzurri have matches against Ireland, Russia, France and England.
August 10: Ireland v Italy (Aviva Stadium)
August 17: Italy v Russia (Stadio Riviera della Palme, San Benedetto del Tronto)
August 30: France v Italy (Stade de France)
September 6: England v Italy (St James’ Park)
Having come so close to reaching the semi-finals at the Rugby World Cup in 2015, Scotland are looking to go one better this year in Japan.
Under the leadership of Gregor Townsend, they finished third in last year’s Championship, and despite an injury-hit 2019 Guinness Six Nations, will have virtually a full squad to select from in Japan.
Scotland have four matches to gear up for the tournament, a pair of double headers against France and Georgia.
August 17: France v Scotland (Allianz Riviera Stadium)
August 24: Scotland v France (BT Murrayfield)
August 31: Georgia v Scotland (Dinamo Arena)
September 6: Scotland v Georgia (BT Murrayfield)
Ireland’s defence of their Guinness Six Nations crown ultimately fell short at the start of 2019 – but they will head to Japan confident of a best-ever campaign.
Joe Schmidt’s men have broken new ground since the last World Cup four years ago. They have beaten New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, and won a Grand Slam in 2018.
This summer’s training camps, first in Galway and currently in Limerick, are their last under Schmidt.
The Kiwi coach will head home after Japan but will be desperate to sign off on a high and lead Ireland past the quarter-final stage for the first time in their history.
August 10: Ireland v Italy (Aviva Stadium)
August 24: England v Ireland (Twickenham Stadium)
August 31: Wales v Ireland (Principality Stadium)
September 7: Ireland v Wales (Aviva Stadium)
France have been working hard to be ready for the World Cup as they look to extend their record of reaching the quarter-finals in every edition of the tournament to date.
With a full squad in training since early July, the players have been in Marcoussis and Monaco under the watchful eye of Jacques Brunel.
After a fourth-place finish at the last Guinness Six Nations, the French bolstered their coaching staff with the arrival of Thibaut Giroud to take care of the conditioning as well as Fabien Galthié and Laurent Labit.
And they will face Scotland twice and Italy once in preparation for the World Cup in Japan.
August 17: France v Scotland (Allianz Riviera, Nice)
August 24: Scotland v France (BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
August 30: France v Italy (Stade de France, Paris)
