AH, AUGUST. THE glorious maturity of summer, kick-started by a bank holiday weekend that feels at least eight weeks overdue and serves as a stern reminder to enjoy the sunlight – dwindling though it may be – while we still can.
It’s the time of year when, previously, rugby comes back into our lives after a not-very-long hiatus to signal a season or perhaps even a seminal World Cup on the horizon. But the rugby played in this fine month does not routinely leave an imprint on the memory. Perhaps the forthcoming return of the Pro14 (only three weeks away now, folks) will change that.
Here’s a quick tester on some of the more notable August rugby friendlies, warm-ups and even some competitions played this century.