History will be made this August when the Qantas Wallabies and Buildcorp Wallaroos feature in back-to-back double headers in Sydney at ANZ Stadium and then Auckland the following Saturday at Eden Park.
The ANZ Stadium clash on Saturday 18 August will be the 50th Test match for the Australian Women’s side and will be the first time that the Buildcorp Wallaroos have played in a double header fixture with the Qantas Wallabies on Australian soil.
The two teams will then travel to Auckland for the second leg of trans-Tasman Tests, where they will play at the home of New Zealand Rugby, Eden Park on Saturday 25 August.
The announcement comes off the back of the successful inaugural season of Buildcorp Super W that saw NSW Women defeat Queensland Women in a thrilling, golden point extra-time Final at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Friday night.
Rugby Australia Chief Executive, Raelene Castle said: “We’ve just witnessed an incredible Buildcorp Super W Final and this is another pivotal moment for Women’s fifteens Rugby with the Buildcorp Wallaroos getting an opportunity to share the spotlight with their male counterparts on back-to-back Bledisloe Cup Test days this year.
“Two years ago, we had the first of these double-headers at the third Bledisloe Cup match in Auckland, and now our Buildcorp Wallaroos will get to experience a home Bledisloe Cup crowd for the first time when they take on the Black Ferns at ANZ Stadium.
“Securing this year’s two-Test series is another important marker as we prepare our bid to host the next Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2021.”
Buildcorp Wallaroos Head Coach Dwayne Nestor said: “This is a truly exciting opportunity and I know the players will be pumped following the confirmation of these Test matches.
“It’ll be an historic experience to play two double headers and to have the opportunity to play in front of a big crowd in Sydney and Auckland will replicate the excitement we saw at the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
“Buildcorp Super W showed the amazing array of players we have in this country and I know it will motivate all players to continue to work hard to ensure they are wearing Wallaroos gold come August.”
The Buildcorp Wallaroos will compete for the Laurie O’Reilly Cup, a trophy Australia is yet to win.
2018 Australia- New Zealand fixtures
Saturday 18 August
Buildcorp Wallaroos v Black Ferns, ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Qantas Wallabies v All Blacks, ANZ Stadium Sydney
Saturday 25 August
Black Ferns v Buildcorp Wallaroos, Eden Park, Auckland
All Blacks v Qantas Wallabies, Eden Park, Auckland
Saturday October 27
All Blacks v Qantas Wallabies, Nissan Stadium, Yokohama
