Rugby Australia have today confirmed that the Qantas Wallabies will wear their First Nations jersey twice during their 2020 Tri Nations campaign.
The First Nations jersey celebrates and recognises Australian Rugby’s First Nations people in its past, present and future, with the design paying tribute to the 14 Indigenous Wallabies who have represented Australia while it also looks forward to the next generation.
The Wallabies will wear the First Nations jersey at ANZ Stadium against New Zealand on Saturday 31 October, in what will be just the second time Australia have worn the jersey on home soil and the first time the Wallabies have worn it in Sydney.
Australia will then don the re-designed jersey against Argentina on Saturday 5 December at Bankwest Stadium to close out the 2020 Tri Nations tournament.
Designed by Dennis Golding, a Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay artist from Redfern in Sydney, the jersey highlights the Wallabies, Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities coming together as one. The Wallabies debuted their First Nations jersey in 2017 when they overcame the All Blacks in a memorable victory at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The team then took the jersey to Twickenham to play England at the home of Rugby before celebrating and recognising Australia’s First Nations’ history at last year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan when they played Uruguay.
Qantas Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie said: “There is no doubt that this jersey holds special meaning for the players, staff and wider Rugby community. “The jersey is representative of those who have gone before us as much as it represents the new generation of players who will wear it next weekend.
"We've put a lot of work into beginning to build the culture of this team and we've spoken a lot about the First Nations people of our country.
“People have already seen our boomerang formation against the Haka and wearing the First Nations jersey during this will certainly add an additional layer of meaning to the occasion,” Rennie said.
Rugby Australia interim Chief Executive, Rob Clarke said: “It’s fantastic that ASICS have been able to support the team again with the First Nations jersey.
“It’s a jersey the side have worn every year since its inception in 2017, and there’s no doubt that it’s a statement on what Australian Rugby stands for.
“We are committed to making Rugby a game for all, and a key part of this includes continuing to make Rugby more accessible to First Nations people.
“We’ve made strides in this with the First Nations Rugby program and the Dream Big Time tour, but there’s no doubt that there’s more work to be done and we’re going to continue to work in this space,” Clarke said.
The jersey has been extremely popular among Wallabies fans, with a first run of the jersey selling out in just days.
Additionally, the Australian Rugby Foundation will look to auction off 15 signed First Nations jerseys, with all proceeds going to the First Nations Rugby programs.
The jersey is manufactured by the Wallabies’ official performance apparel partner, ASICS, and is available for purchase now from Wallaby Shop.
Tickets are already on sale for the Bledisloe Cup clash on Saturday 31 October on ANZ Stadium with all remaining tickets to the 2020 Tri Nations tournament to go on sale 12pm AEDT on Thursday 22 October.
2020 Tri Nations Match Schedule
Matchday One
October 31 at 7.45pm AEDT
Australia v New Zealand
ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Matchday Two
November 7 at 7.45pm AEDT
Australia v New Zealand
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Matchday Three
November 14 at 5.10pm AEDT
New Zealand v Argentina
Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
Matchday Four
November 21 at 7.45pm AEDT
Argentina v Australia
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Matchday Five
November 28 at 7.45pm AEDT
Argentina v New Zealand
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Matchday Six
December 5 at 7.45pm AEDT
Australia v Argentina
Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
