The IRB introduced an International Rugby Series, to improve competitiveness ahead of the next World Cup, that included Tier 2 nations Tonga, Canada, Russia, Samoa and the United States.
The first tournament was held at Colwyn Bay's Eirias Stadium in North Wales.
Both Georgia and Romania hosted Japan, while Portugal travelled to South America to play a two test tour, where they earn victories over Uruguay and Chile.
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa) Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia) Notes: Touch judges: Christophe Berdos (France) Stéphane Pomarede (France) Touch judges: Alain Rolland (Ireland) Mathieu Raynal (France) Television match official: Eric Gauzins (France) Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Marius Mitrea (Italy) Television match official: Gareth Simmonds (Wales) Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland) Dudley Phillips (Ireland) Television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland) Notes: Touch judges: Steve Walsh (Australia) Luke Pierce (England) Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy) Notes: Touch judges: John Lacey (Ireland) Neil Paterson (Scotland) Television match official: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales) Notes: Touch judges: Pascal Gaüzère (France) Simon McDowell (Ireland) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England) Notes: Touch judges: Felipe Balbontin (Chile) Henrique Platais (Brazil) Touch judges: Ian Tempest (England) Paul Dix (England)) Notes: Touch judges: Robin Goodliffe (England) Greg Garner (England) Touch judges: Steve Lee (England) Darryl Chapman (England) Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England) Jérôme Garcès (France) Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy) Touch judges: Vlad Iordachescu (Romania) Radu Petrescu (Romania) Touch judges: Steve Lee (England) Simon McConnell (England) Television match official: Trevor Fisher (England) Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Peter Allan (Scotland) Television match official: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales) Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) Mathieu Raynal (France) Television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland) Touch judges: John Lacey (Ireland) Cristophe Berdos (France) Television match official: Eric Gauzins (France) Touch judges: Neil Hennessy (Wales) Sean Brickell (Wales) Television match official: Gareth Simmonds (Wales) Notes: Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) David Changleng (Scotland) Television match official: Carlo Damasco (Italy) Touch judges: Henrique Platais (Brazil) Juan Sylvestre (Argentina) Touch judges: Ross Campbell (England) Roger Baileff (England) Touch judges: Romain Poite (France) Andrew Small (England) Television match official: Geoff Warren (England) Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England) Neil Paterson (Scotland) Television match official: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland) Touch judges: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland) Ian Davies (Wales) Touch judges: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland) Television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland) Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland) Marius Mitrea (Italy) Television match official: Carlo Damasco (Italy) Notes: Touch judges: Alain Rolland (Ireland) Dudley Phillips (Ireland) Television match official: Iain Ramage (Scotland) Touch judges: Jérôme Garcès (France) Greg Garner (England) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England) Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa) Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy) Notes: Touch judges: Romain Poite (France) Greg Garner (England) Television match official: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland) Notes: For more details on this topic, see: 2012 International Rugby Series Much like the 2008 end of year series, the final IRB rankings at the end of the international window will play a massive part towards the seeding of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Like the 2011 tournament, the IRB rankings will play a pivotal role in proceedings with the top four placed sides at the end of the international window set to be kept apart in the draw.