Wales have never beaten the Springboks in South Africa

The first game of Wales' two-Test summer tour of world champions South Africa will be in Bloemfontein.

The venue for the 7 June clash was in doubt due to work at Vodacom Park ahead of the 2010 football World Cup.

The tour concludes the next Saturday at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, with both matches to kick-off at 1400 BST.

"We'll be testing ourselves against the world champions at probably the ideal time for our own development," said Wales coach Warren Gatland.

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Gatland will be defending a 100% record in charge, having led Wales to the Grand Slam after taking over in December.

He has promised to take his strongest available side to South Africa, where the tour is also being talked up.

Springbok legend Naas Botha believes the series promises to be among the best of the last 10 years, contrasting with recent summer tours from northern hemisphere countries who have sent weakened squads south of the equator.

Wales have beaten the Springboks just once in their history, and have never triumphed on South African soil.

The Welsh rugby team will never shy away from the big challenges WRU boss Roger Lewis

Moreover, Wales have not beaten one of the Tri-Nations sides on their home turf since overcoming Australia in 1969, a 1987 win over the Wallabies having been played in New Zealand.

"Warren has said openly he wants Wales to be in the top five of the International Rugby Board world rankings by the time his contract expires in four years' time," said Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive Roger Lewis.

"We currently lie in sixth position and it is only by pitting ourselves against the best teams world rugby has to offer that we will be able to achieve our aims.

"The Welsh rugby team will never shy away from the big challenges.

"There could have been no better tour for us this summer than to visit the home of the world champions, play in two high intensity Test matches, and gain a true measure of our progress."

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