England fringe players handed midweek chance in South Africa
ENGLAND rugby chiefs have confirmed two further matches on the summer tour of South Africa, with Stuart Lancaster’s men playing midweek fixtures in between their three Tests.
On 13 June, four days after the first Test, an England team will face an SA Barbarians South outfit in Kimberley. Then, three days after the second Test, they meet SA Barbarians North in Potchefstroom.
Lancaster, for whom the tour will be his first since taking charge, said the extra games would allow him to trial fringe players from what is expected to be a 40-man squad.
The former Saxons head coach has said he wants to adopt a Lions-style model for the trip, which will be England’s first three-Test visit to South Africa.
Lancaster is still to complete his backroom team, however, having failed to prise Andy Farrell from Premiership champions Saracens.