The Wallabies will play Georgia on home soil for the first time in July but face an uphill battle to sell tickets given the clash will be the second Test match in Sydney in 14 days.
The historic clash with Georgia, who are ranked No.14 in the world, will come after Joe Schmidt’s tenure as Wallabies coach begins in July with a two-Test series against Wales.
The Welsh haven’t toured Australia since 2012, when they lost 3-0, but Warren Gatland’s men had an emphatic last laugh at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, when they thumped the Wallabies by a record 40-6 scoreline to consign Eddie Jones’ side to a humiliating pre-finals exit.
The first clash against Wales will be at Allianz Stadium in Sydney as part of a double-header with a Wallaroos-Fiji Test match, and the second fixture will be at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
Georgia’s visit is part of a push from World Rugby for tier one nations to play developing nations more, and though the Lelos are a tough team to beat – as the Wallabies learned in a 35-15 win at the Rugby World Cup – Georgia are more known for their scrummaging than attacking flair.
Rugby Australia explored taking the game to a regional venue like Gosford or Newcastle but NRL games were already booked, and so scheduled the game at Allianz Stadium, just two weeks after the Wallabies meet Wales at the same venue. It is set to be played as an afternoon game, kicking off at 3pm.
That will see the Test match clash with club rugby, although informed sources with knowledge of the negotiations say Rugby Australia and the Sydney Rugby Union are in discussions about shifting Shute Shield games to Sunday or away from 3pm kickoffs.
There is also potential for a Shute Shield clash to be played as a curtain-raiser for the Wallabies-Georgia Test.
Captain Will Skelton is tackled by Beka Gorgadze of Georgia during the Wallabies’ opening World Cup game.Credit: Getty
The Wallabies will host world champions South Africa for two Rugby Championship Tests in August, in Brisbane and Perth, before flying to Argentina for two Tests.
The final Rugby Championship game will see Sydney host its first Bledisloe Cup Test since 2020, with a clash against the All Blacks at Accor Stadium on September 21. The second Bledisloe Cup fixture will be a week later at Sky Stadium in Wellington.
The Wallaroos will play ten Tests in 2024 – and a record four of them on home soil – with Pacific Four Series clashes against Canada in Sydney on May 11 and the USA in Melbourne on May 17; the latter two being played as double-headers with Super Rugby fixtures.
The Wallaroos will play New Zealand away on May 26 and then in a home clash on July 14 at Ballymore in Brisbane.
They will play another two Tests in September, which are yet to be finalised, and three more in the WXV1 competition in October.
“We’re continuing to honour our commitment to grow the women’s game, with the Wallaroos set to play their highest number of Tests on home soil in a calendar year in 2024 against world-class opposition at first-class stadiums,” RA chief executive Phil Waugh said in a statement.
“The Wallabies will be looking for a reset this year, with Joe Schmidt to lead them against four high-quality Test opponents on home soil, including Georgia who we look forward to welcoming to Australia for the first time.
“To be able to host a double header in Sydney with both teams at Allianz Stadium will be a highlight on the Australian sporting calendar in 2024, while having the World Champion Springboks play two Tests here is a massive win for all Rugby supporters and sports fans in Australia.“
All three episodes of the brand new Stan Original Documentary Series The Wallabies – Inside Rugby World Cup 2023 premiere February 22, only on Stan.
