Australia: Wallabies’ Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup Tests confirmed
The Australia team sing the national anthem during the rugby union international match between Wales and Australia at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Australia have confirmed their Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup fixtures for this year, and these Tests will form the basis of their 2023 Rugby World Cup preparations, which kicks off in September.
In a shortened edition of the Rugby Championship, due to rugby’s global showpiece in France, the Wallabies will start their campaign against the world champions, South Africa, at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on July 8.
Sydney to host first home Test for 2023
They will then return to Australia to face Argentina at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on July 15 in what will be their first match at home for the year.
The Wallabies will then be involved in back-to-back Bledisloe Cup Tests, with them hosting the All Blacks in the first encounter at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 29.
It will be only the third occasion that the iconic sports venue hosts a rugby Test, and it’s the first one since 2007, when Australia clinched a 20-15 victory over New Zealand in front of nearly 80,000 spectators.
The trans-Tasman rivals will then face each other at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin for the return clash on August 5, with the Wallabies hoping to lift the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.
A big year for the Wallabies
Rugby Australia CEO, Andy Marinos said: “2023 is a big year for our men in gold as we look ahead to the Rugby World Cup in France. The eToro Rugby Championship home fixtures are an important part of this preparation as we look forward to welcoming the Pumas and All Blacks to our backyard.
“With the Pumas at Commbank Stadium and All Blacks at the MCG there is a lot of exciting rugby ahead.
“With the Rugby World Cup less than nine months away I know the team will be wanting to get hold of some silverware before then and these matches will provide the perfect platform for this.
“With a new Wallaby coach in charge and being the last coach to have won the Bledisloe Cup, expectations will be high throughout the international series.
“As always, we would like to thank all of our partners and broadcasters for their continued support, as well as the State Governments for their ongoing support and co-operation in delivering world-class sporting events in Australia.”
New Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones is looking forward to the upcoming Tests and expects difficult assignments in all the matches.
“The Rugby Championship is one of the toughest competitions in the world and to play against high-quality sides in South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina in a World Cup year is perfect preparation for our team,” he said.
“To be able to play in Sydney against the Pumas is going to be a great hit-out and then you’ve got the MCG which is one of the most iconic stadiums in the world with 100,000 Wallabies supporters there cheering us on.
“There’s plenty to be done between now and then but I can’t wait to bring the team together and get to work.”
Wallabies Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup fixtures
July 8: Wallabies v South Africa, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
July 15: Wallabies v Argentina, CommBank Stadium, Sydney
July 29: Wallabies v New Zealand, Melbourne Cricket Ground
August 5: Wallabies v New Zealand, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
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