Cape Town – The Springboks are set to break with tradition this year and kick off their international season with a Test against Wales in Cardiff on June 5.

South Africa’s first Test of the year would initially have been the one against France at Newlands on June 12, but rugby bosses have subsequently agreed to an additional fixture for the Boks at the Millennium Stadium.

SARU are still believed to be in the process of informing their stakeholders of the additional game.

South Africa’s programme for the year therefore includes 14 Tests and a match against the Barbarians.

It’s two more Tests than last year, when South Africa had a poor end-of-season tour on the back of a glorious international season that included a series victory over the British and Irish Lions, as well as a Tri-Nations triumph.

Springboks’ programme for 2010:

5 June: v Wales (Cardiff)
12 June: v France (Cape Town)
19 June: v Italy (Witbank)
26 June: v Italy (East London)
10 July: v New Zealand (Auckland)
17 July: v New Zealand (Wellington)
24 July: v Australia (Brisbane)
21 August: v New Zealand (Johannesburg)
28 August: v Australia (Pretoria)
4 September: v Australia (Bloemfontein)
6 November: v Ireland (Dublin)
13 November: v Wales (Cardiff)
20 November: v Scotland (Edinburgh)
27 November: v England (London)
4 December: v Barbarians (London)