ARU Announces 2012 June Tests with Wales and Scotland to Tour

Australian Rugby Union Media Release

Australian Rugby Union today announced the Qantas Wallabies will return to playing traditional June Tests next year with Scotland and Rugby World Cup Bronze Finalists Wales to tour down under.

 The Qantas Wallabies will play four Tests in the June tour window with their first match scheduled for Tuesday evening, 5 June, at Newcastle’s Ausgrid Stadium against Scotland.

The Castrol Edge Rugby International  is set to kick-off the 2012 domestic Test season in historic fashion with the one-off clash to be the first Test ever played by the Wallabies in the Hunter region.

The Test will also be the first meeting between the two teams since the Scots defeated Australia 9-8 at Murrayfield in Edinburgh in 2009, a win that saw them break a 27-year, 16-game losing streak to the Men in Gold.

Following the Newcastle showdown with Scotland, the Qantas Wallabies will play three Tests on successive Saturdays against their Rugby World Cup Bronze Final rivals Wales in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney as part of the Castrol Edge Welsh Tour.

It will be the first time since 2001 - when the British and Irish Lions toured Australia - that the Wallabies will play a European heavyweight in a three-Test series across the June window.

On Saturday 9 June the Wallabies will step out against the Welsh at Suncorp Stadium for the first time since securing the Castrol Edge Tri Nations Trophy at the same ground last August with a win over the All Blacks.

The following Saturday 16 June the Qantas Wallabies and Wales will battle it out at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium and on Saturday 23 June Test Rugby will return to the Sydney Football Stadium for the final match in the Castrol Edge Welsh Tour.

ARU Managing Director and CEO, John O’Neill A.O, said the return to the traditional June Tests was great news for Rugby fans.

“A return to a three-Test series as we will play against Wales is an opportunity to build anticipation, excitement and momentum during the course of the tour," Mr O'Neill said.

"It is a long time since we have had that opportunity, to experience a heavyweight northern hemisphere opponent in our backyard for three Tests.

"I'm delighted too that Wales will be that opponent in 2012. I think all Australians understand what the Welsh are capable of in terms of exciting and attacking Rugby.

"They were unfortunate to lose to France in the Rugby World Cup semi-final, after playing with 14 men for most of the game, and they were certainly difficult opponents for the Wallabies in the Bronze Final.

“The challenge for our team next year will be huge.”

Mr O'Neill said the addition of Scotland to the June Test window was also enormously significant.

“Newcastle and the Hunter region has a wonderful history as a nursery for Wallabies stars, the most recent of them being Luke Burgess.

"So to take a Test to the area is a fitting reward for the contribution Newcastle and the Hunter have made over a long period of time. Our Test history stretches back to 1899 and there have been any number of Newcastle stars to grace Australian teams during that period.

"I also want to thank the Scots and the Welsh for agreeing to tour Australian 2012.

“Scotland came close to beating both Argentina and England at the Rugby World Cup and did defeat the Wallabies in the last meeting between our two countries in 2009, so we know they will provide formidable opposition."

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson welcomed today’s announcement.

“We’re really pleased to have this fixture as part of our tour in June which will also encompass Test matches against Fiji and Samoa,” Robinson said.

“The last time we played against Australia was a very good game and a special win for Scotland.

“We’re very much looking forward to going to Newcastle and playing our part in the inaugural Test match at the stadium there.”

Welsh Rugby Union Group Chief Executive, Roger Lewis said they are very much looking forward to Wales’ Summer Tour in 2012 when they head to Australia to play one of the finest and most exciting rugby playing nations.

“Wales and Australia were two of the best teams in the 2011 Rugby World Cup and it will be a mouth-watering opportunity for fans to see the two sides lock horns again,” Mr Lewis said.

“The Welsh fans proved that they are fantastic travelling support when they turned up in New Zealand creating a sea of red at all Wales’ fixtures and we are hope that the loyal expats will do Wales proud again when they have the opportunity to support the Welsh Team next summer.

“It is an ideal opportunity for Wales to be tested against one of the best teams around and challenge on a world stage.

“It will also be a fantastic experience for any Welsh players who are seeking to travel back to Australia with the British and Irish Lions the following year.”

Kick-off times and ticket on sale dates for all four June Tests will be announced in early 2012.