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Canada and the USA have secured at least one Tier 1 test for 2018, with Scotland set to tour North America during the June test window. The plans were revealed by World Rugby Head of Competition and Performance Mark Egan in an interview with SportsPro last week. It’s particularly good news for Canada, who will not have a Tier 1 opponent during the June 2017 window with Ireland instead heading to Japan following their one-off match against the Eagles on June 10.
It will be Scotland’s third North American trip, having previously played both Canada and the USA on tours in 2002 and 2014. Canada’s 26-23 win at Vancouver’s Thunderbird Stadium in June 2002 is the only time Scotland has lost to either side. Canada were cruelly denied a chance at a second famous victory on home soil in 2014 when a highly contentious red card to Jebb Sinclair issued in the 75th minute reversed a very kickable penalty awarded deep in Scottish territory, a match Scotland would win by two points.
The Eagles have never come close to defeating the Scots, their smallest margin of defeat an 18 point loss at BBVA Compass Stadium in 2014. Their most recent meeting came during the pool stages of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in Leeds, England, where Scotland came away comfortable 39-16 winners.
Dates and locations of the two fixtures are still to be determined.
