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- The 2021 mid-year rugby union internationals (also known as the summer internationals in the Northern Hemisphere) were a series of international rugby union matches that are typically played in the Southern Hemisphere during the July international window. Due to ongoing restrictions around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of matches were cancelled, and some series reversed so that the Northern Hemisphere nations hosted the matches, and some teams played for the first time since their final matches of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The window was highlighted by the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa, which included a three-test series between the Lions and South Africa. Ahead of the tour, the Lions hosted their first home match since 2005, against Japan in Scotland, while South Africa were scheduled to host a two-test series against Georgia; the first time the teams had met outside the Rugby World Cup. The second test of this series was cancelled. Japan went on to play Ireland. Ireland also played the United States, having had to adapt their summer tour after their test series away to Fiji was cancelled. To replace Ireland's tour, Fiji traveled to New Zealand for a first ever test series against the All Blacks, who also hosted Tonga. Tonga began their preparation for their 2023 Rugby World Cup qualification series against Samoa, and Samoa used a two-match series against the Māori All Blacks as their preparation. The three-test series between Australia and France was condensed to take place within 11 days, due to French club commitments and a hotel quarantine period for the France team. Australia go on to play New Zealand in the first Bledisloe Cup match of the year. England and Wales's summer tours were reversed, as England welcomed Canada and the United States, and Wales hosted Argentina. Wales, who were originally meant to play Uruguay as part of their South America tour, instead played Canada ahead of their two-test series against Argentina. Argentina also prepared for the series with a first visit to Bucharest since 1992 to play Romania, which replaced Argentina's cancelled home game against Georgia. Romania were scheduled to face Scotland for the first time since 2011 and Scotland were also due to play Georgia as part of their Eastern Europe tour, but both matches were cancelled. The window also contained a number of other 2023 Rugby World Cup qualification warm-ups as Uruguay played an Argentina XV, the Cook Islands played a Tasman Mako HP XV and the New Zealand U20 team, and Zimbabwe played Zambia. Zimbabwe were also scheduled to play Portugal, but the match was cancelled. (en)
- Die Mid-year Internationals 2021 (auch als Summer Tests 2021 bezeichnet) waren eine vom 2. Juni bis zum 7. August 2021 stattfindende Serie von internationalen Rugby-Union-Spielen zwischen Mannschaften der ersten, zweiten und dritten Stärkeklasse. Aufgrund der Reisebeschränkungen während der COVID-19-Pandemie waren dies für manche Nationalmannschaften die ersten Spiele seit der Weltmeisterschaft 2019. Das internationale Fenster fiel mit der Tour der British and Irish Lions nach Südafrika 2021 zusammen, die unter anderem eine Serie von drei Test Matches zwischen den Lions und den Springboks umfasste. Als Vorbereitung darauf spielten die Lions einmal gegen Japan und die Springboks einmal gegen Georgien. Eine weitere bedeutende Serie war Frankreich gegen Australien. Außerdem bestritt Fidschi erstmals überhaupt eine Serie gegen Neuseeland. (de)
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