Scotland’s autumn opponents confirmed

Scotland will play three internationals this autumn against Japan, South Africa and Australia, it was confirmed today.The game against Japan, the host of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, will be a cap Test match, the countries last having met in 2010 in a non-cap encounter which was part of Scotland’s preparations for their summer tour to Argentina.It will take place on Saturday 9 November with a 2.30pm kick-off. The venue is yet to be finalised.The following Sunday (17 November), Scotland will welcome South Africa to Murrayfield (kick-off 3pm) and will conclude their autumn series on Saturday 23 November by defending the Hopetoun Cup that they retained with a courageous victory in New South Wales last summer, when they host the Wallabies at Murrayfield (kick-off 6pm).All matches on the BBCAll three matches will be transmitted by BBC Television. The Japan game will be shown on BBC Scotland and via the red button in the rest of the UK; the match against the Springboks will be on BBC One & BBC One HD and the match against Australia will be on BBC Two & BBC Two HD. Scottish Rugby’s Director of Commercial Operations, Communications and Public Affairs, Dominic McKay, said: “We’re delighted to be able to confirm our Test matches for this November and are finalising some special season-long ticket packages for our supporters at present. “This season our cumulative attendance for Murrayfield Test matches was more than 300,000, which speaks volumes both for the depth of support for an improving Scotland team and also for our determination to structure our ticket prices so that we give every family in Scotland the opportunity to watch international rugby in the flesh.”We’re also very pleased to continue our long-standing association with the BBC, who will again broadcast our Autumn Tests and ensure Scotland supporters throughout the United Kingdom who can’t make it to the game in person are able to cheer on their team.”BBC Director of Sport Barbara Slater added: The Autumn internationals are a highlight in the rugby calendar and we’re delighted to be providing coverage of Scotland’s matches. We value our longstanding relationship with the SRU and broadcasting the autumn tests means that we will continue to bring top class rugby to our audiences.”