The Wallabies have officially announced their first Test of the year, confirming a World Cup rematch against the Flying Fijians at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on July 6th.
The match, acting as an essential warm-up before their initial encounter with the British & Irish Lions on July 19th, will signify Fiji’s first game on Australian ground since 2017, and their first contest after their notable meeting at the 2023 World Cup – where Fiji defeated the Wallabies for the first time since 1954.
The game will mark the first occasion international rugby comes back to the Steel City in four years, after the venue hosted two matches during the COVID-impacted 2020 Tri-Nations, where the Wallabies and All Blacks competed against Los Pumas.
In 2025, McDonald Jones Stadium will welcome its first women’s Test match, where the Wallaroos will face the Black Ferns in their opening home Test of the year on May 10th, starting their Pacific Four series.
This will be the first occasion the Wallaroos have come back to Newcastle since 2019, when they notably secured their inaugural Test victory on home ground, beating Japan 34-5 before nearly 4,000 spectators at Newcastle Sportsground No. 2.
“Having the squad unite for an authentic Test match prior to the British and Irish Lions series will be fantastic,” said Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt in a press release.
“In their attempt to reach the semifinals, Fiji fell just six points short of defeating England at the 2023 World Cup.” They defeated Wales in Cardiff last November and offer a mix of toughness and style that makes them enjoyable to watch and difficult to overcome.”
“Newcastle fans are devoted supporters of both men’s and women’s sports, so I am confident these upcoming events will draw large audiences,” remarked Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge.
“The Wallaroos triumphed in their inaugural Test match in Australia by defeating Japan in Newcastle in 2019.”
“Our supporters demonstrated their dedication to the men’s team when 20,000 showed up in terrible weather to see the Wallabies’ first test in Newcastle in 2012.”
Although it appears to be a pivotal matchup for Joe Schmidt’s team, the Wallabies have numerous issues to overcome in Newcastle – in various respects.
The previous encounter between the two teams at the World Cup resulted in Fiji’s historic win, causing the Wallabies to be eliminated from the pool stage of rugby’s top tournament for the first time—an outcome that led to Eddie Jones leaving his role as coach.
It marked the most recent in a remarkable series of wins for the Flying Fijians – since 2023, the team has secured multiple tier-one victories, including against England, Wales, and Japan.
In addition to the Fijian aspect, McDonald Jones Stadium has not been a favorable venue – as it is the only home ground where the Wallabies have yet to secure a win – with the last two matches resulting in a 15-all tie against Los Pumas in 2020, and their notorious 6-9 defeat to Scotland under heavy rain in 2012.
This trend persisted in Super Rugby, as the Waratahs were defeated by the Sunwolves 31-29 in their first encounter at the venue in 2019.
The Fijian matchup occurs at an important moment for the sport in the area – as the Hunter has surfaced as a hopeful breeding ground for rugby union after the Wildfires rejoined the Shute Shield in 2020. Numerous current stars, such as Wallaby Nic White and Wallaroos Layne Morgan and Maya Stewart, come from the area.
The Wildfires are poised to increase their impact, as former Waratahs coach Darren Coleman takes on the role of Director of Rugby within the organization.
The Hunter has been officially confirmed to host multiple matches in the 2027 World Cup, with additional details expected to be revealed on Thursday.
Accor Stadium in Sydney is expected to be confirmed as the site for the final, while reports indicate that Optus Stadium in Perth will host the opening ceremony and the match against the Wallabies.
Importantly, it also indicated that Melbourne is again considered for hosting multiple fixtures, with negotiations continuing between Rugby Australia and the Victorian Government.