Wales head to Argentina for Nations Championship tour

Wales are set to embark on a demanding Nations Championship tour that will take them over 12,000 miles across two continents. Steve Tandy's side will fly to Buenos Aires in the next 24 hours for back-to-back Tests against Argentina before heading to Durban to face world champions South Africa.

The tour begins less than a week after Wales opened the new World Rugby tournament with an impressive 39-24 victory over Fiji at Cardiff City Stadium. That result, featuring six tries, gave Wales consecutive Test wins for the first time since 2023 and lifted spirits ahead of the long-haul travel.

Travelling challenges

The 33-man squad will first fly more than 7,000 miles to Buenos Aires, crossing several time zones. After a week of preparation, they will play Argentina in San Juan next Saturday. The Pumas began the tournament with a narrow 47-38 home defeat to Scotland. Wales will then face a 5,300-mile journey to Durban to play South Africa on 18 July.

Head coach Steve Tandy acknowledged the logistical hurdles but insisted there would be no excuses. "We're going to face two unbelievable tests with limited training but it's going to be a unique test for us," Tandy said. "We'll probably have one session in Argentina together because there'll be separate flights over there."

• Wales fly to Buenos Aires (over 7,000 miles) before travelling to San Juan for the Argentina Test
• Argentina will be seeking revenge after their 47-38 loss to Scotland in the tournament opener
• The final leg is a 5,300-mile trip to Durban to face South Africa, who beat England 45-21
• Tandy expects limited training sessions before each match due to travel
• Squad rotation is likely given the physical demands of back-to-back Tests

What's next

Wales will need to quickly adapt to Argentina's conditions and a wounded Pumas side. Tandy, who previously worked with Scotland and the British and Irish Lions, believes the touring environment can strengthen team bonds. "You get to know people better on a deeper level because there are probably no other distractions," he said. Wales face a tough test of depth and resilience as they bid for further success in the new tournament.