The IRFU yesterday confirmed its 2006 summer tour schedule to the Southern Hemisphere.

Ireland will play three Test matches with an interval of a week between each, the first taking place in Australia and the final two in New Zealand.

Ireland will open the tour with a first game against the Wallabies on Saturday, June 10th, and will follow up with two Test matches against the All Blacks on June 17th and 24th.

The venues for each of the games are yet to be confirmed.

The confirmation means that within the space of eight months between November 2005 and June 2006, Ireland will play New Zealand three times.

Given the number of Irish players involved in the recent Lions three-Test tour to New Zealand, familiarity should not be a problem come 2006.

IRISH TOUR 2006

June 10th: Australia v Ireland

June 17th: New Zealand v Ireland

June24th: New Zealand v Ireland

Venues tbc.