Wales add another surprising fixture to their July tour to Australia
Wales and Australia players shake hands after the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Wales and Australia at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon, France on September 24, 2023.
Warren Gatland’s Wales team will play three matches during their tour to Australia in July following the announcement that they will face one of the Australian Super Rugby Pacific sides.
Gatland is set to face off against Joe Schmidt once again as the two New Zealanders resume their rivalry having gone toe-to-toe on several occasions when Schmidt was in charge of Ireland.
Schmidt has taken over as Wallabies head coach following the departure of Eddie Jones to Japan and his first Test in charge will be against his familiar foe in Gatland as the two sides meet in Sydney (July 6) and Melbourne (July 13).
However, Wales will make a final stop in Brisbane, where they will face the Queensland Reds before returning home.
Wales to face the Queensland Reds
They will tackle the Super Rugby Pacific outfit at the iconic Suncorp Stadium on Friday, July 19 to round off their tour.
The Reds have enjoyed a solid start to the Super Rugby Pacific season, with Les Kiss’ side winning two of their opening three games of the 2024 season, defeating rivals the Waratahs 40-22 in their season opener, before falling to the Hurricanes 38-33 and beating Gatland’s former employers, the Chiefs, 25-19.
The clash against Wales will be Queensland’s first game against a major touring nation since they beat Scotland 41-5 in Brisbane 20 years ago.
While Wales will only play two Tests matches during their tour to Australia, they will head to Twickenham before departing when they face off against the Springboks on June 22.
“Facing the Queensland Reds in Brisbane will provide the perfect climax to a summer on the road for Wales’ senior men’s side,” WRU Executive Performance Director Nigel Walker OBE said.
“Tests against South Africa, in London, and Australia in Sydney and then Melbourne mean we should arrive in Brisbane battle-hardened and ready for action.
“The game against the Reds is a nod to traditional tours when Test teams regularly took on club sides during their travels and we look forward to celebrating the end of a tough season in style at Suncorp Stadium on July 19.”
The last time the Reds faced Wales
The last time Wales and the Queensland Reds faced off was back in 1991 before Wallabies great John Eales had yet to make his Test debut.
Eales applauded the revival of a clash between the Queensland Reds and a major touring team, the first since a full house at Suncorp Stadium cheered the Reds against the 2013 British and Irish Lions.
“It’s a wonderful initiative and Queensland rugby fans will make something special of it,” Eales said.
“I know for me, facing Wales as a Reds player in 1991 was the first top international side I played against. It was huge.
“That was because there is so much history and heritage to these Queensland clashes against international sides, including wins over the All Blacks (1980) and Lions (1971).
“This match against Wales in July will be a great incentive for Queensland players and a celebration of the heritage of Queensland rugby.”
Wales’ June/July fixtures
Saturday, June 22 – South Africa v Wales (Twickenham Stadium, London)
Saturday, July 6 – Australia v Wales (Allianz Stadium, Sydney)
Saturday, July 13 – Australia v Wales (AAMI Park, Melbourne)
Friday, July 19 – Queensland Reds v Wales (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)