The Wallabies will enjoy the advantage of two home games against the All Blacks for the first time since 2014 following the release of the Australian domestic Rugby Championship draw for 2017.
As was the case in 2016, Sydney’s ANZ Stadium will play host to Bledisloe 1, which is also the first game of the Rugby Championship. However, rather than playing the remaining two Trans-Tasman Tests in New Zealand, Game 3 will be played at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, October 21.
» Complete 2017 Rugby Championship draw
Following the first Bledisloe match on August 19, the Wallabies will head to Perth to take on the Springboks on September 9 before meeting Argentina a week later at a yet-to-be confirmed venue.
The ground for the match against the Pumas will be announced early in 2017.
Instead of changing to a mid-afternoon time like the Wallabies’ home Tests in June against Fiji, Scotland and Italy, the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe fixtures played in Australia will all retain their 8pm (AEST) kickoff time.
“Fans can expect some incredible rugby from this 2017 Rugby Championship schedule, featuring two Bledisloe Cup matches on home soil, the Springboks in Perth where they always attract a strong following, and a soon-to-be-confirmed clash with Argentina,” said ARU CEO Bill Pulver.
“This competition sets the standard in international rugby for the rivalry, skill and flair it showcases. To have the best teams on the planet playing in our backyard is a wonderful opportunity for sports lovers – young and old – to see some of the world’s best rugby first-hand.”
The Wallabies will no doubt be hoping the two home Tests against the dominant All Blacks will provide them with a chance to hold the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since a 1-1 series result in 2002 allowed them to retain the hallowed trophy.
Although ANZ Stadium was the site of one of the worst Wallabies performances in recent memory – they were comprehensively beaten 42-8 during the opening Bledisloe encounter earlier this year – it is also the venue where the side recorded their last victory over their Trans-Tasman rivals back in 2015.
The Wallabies and All Blacks have a history of close-fought matches played in Brisbane – the last meeting between the two at Suncorp saw New Zealand claim a one-point win in 2014, two years after an 18-all stalemate at the ground.
Tickets for the matches will go on sale in May next year.
Wallabies vs New Zealand, Saturday 19 August, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, 8pm (AEST)
Wallabies vs South Africa, Saturday 9 September, nib Stadium, Perth, 8pm (AEST)
Wallabies vs Argentina, Saturday 16 September, Venue TBC, 8pm (AEST)
Wallabies vs New Zealand, Saturday 21 October, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 7pm (AEST)
Stuart John Pearson Adv Dip Acctg
Guest
True the Wallabies have not been in Adeladie since 2003 Rugby World Cup but I think that either Newcastle or Gold Coast will end up with this match.
Cam
Guest
Would love to see the Puma's game in Adelaide. As spoken about in this forum I would like to see the ARU move games around. Have a rotation so the All Blacks, Boks, Pumas along with the Nth Hemp teams play in different cities. We have the Stadiums for it now in our largest cities.
Stuart John Pearson
Guest
Newcastle NSW for Los Pumas (Argentina) next year.at McDonald Jones or Hunter Stadium. Yes indeed. Buses in Newcastle from STA or Private would help transports supporters. Broadmeadow Railway Station is close by to Stadium for long distance travellers.Airport at Williamstown flys to Melbourne and Brisbane from Newcastle NSW..
Stuart John Pearson
Guest
Nigel Owens is sorting out those all blacks for next year in Steak and Kidney and Brisvegas. lol. What a high spirited bloke he is.
piru
Guest
Celtic - I believe there are Bledisloes earmarked for Perth once our new stadium is completed. NIB stadium, although a great place to watch Rugby is just not big enough to justify a Bledisloe test
Bakkies
Guest
Argentina is tbc. Too me Newcastle should get it. Canberra don't deserve a test. Fans whinge about the cold and it not being in the City (which is clap trap as there is a free bus service that takes you out there).
Dwards
Roar Rookie
Italy is a 2pm match in Brisbane. Good family game I reckon.
Rt
Guest
Location? Who mentioned location?
Celtic334
Guest
Pumas test in Melbourne would be great. As a QLD that now lives in VIC i think its time we help support the game away from the traditional areas. A Bledisloe in Perth would be fantastic, and would be much needed news for the Force. I understand market forces determine where games are played but over the course of the next year a perfect schedule, in my eyes, would look like the following Fiji - Sydney (has the biggest of all the pacific island populations) Italy - Melbourne (has the biggest of the italian populations) Scotland - Brisbane (well just financially we need more than one game a year here) South Africa - Sydney (cant even remember the last time they played there) Argentina - Melbourne (Just feel this will appeal to the melb market than the perth one) New Zealand - Brisbane (biggest kiwi population outside of NZ) New Zealand - Perth (somewhere new, help the force out) I understand that there is financial obligations to hold a bledisloe every year in sydney and it should be played there more often than not, but itd do us a world of good to share it around more than currently does. Canberra unfortunately misses out (perhaps a midweek test against Tonga/Samoa/Georgia in June) would be something to look at.
rebel
Guest
Agree with this. I avoid G&GR as it is more Wallaby focussed which is fine. The Roar is more of an international Rugby site.
gekko
Guest
Well said Rt. Kiwis as anybody else are welcome as long as they are serious or humorous. No trolling.
simmo
Guest
About time Adelaide got a match, they've never had one and they would get a bigger crowd that AAMI can hold at 31,000
simmo
Guest
Its the same on every rugby forum, its like they scour the globe for any AB news and comment to defend.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Ah yes... as ever the Jokerman :)
Wardad
Guest
This is a forum for ALL rugby fans not just those who think location gives them some sort of ownership .
Paul
Guest
Guessing the Argentina game is not going to be announced for Melbourne unless there is significant evidence that the surface is fixed.
Fishboy
Guest
Seems a hobby of the Kiwis and POMs to move here and then complain loudly about how crap the place and everything in it is. Whatever, that's their prerogative under free speach I guess. Personally, the more footy to watch, the better! TV, Suncorp, Gold Coast, local footy ground watching 2nds then 1st. More more more please. And stuff the critics, the only thing worse than bad footy is no footy.
Rt
Guest
Don't kiwis have their own rugby forums to post on or do these jokers get a kick out of trying to get a reaction from Aussies. I mean do you toddle off to work and tell your colleagues "I really got those Aussies again with a zinger about how good we are and how crap they are. I was really humble tho."
Chinmay Hejmadi
Roar Guru
Fiji, Scotland and Italy.
Tommy
Guest
Thank god!!! Your right winning anythink or anything should be done the same way nz play for that log of wood. Haha