Joe Schmidt to start reign as Wallabies coach with home series against Wales

Joe Schmidt will kick off his reign as the Wallabies’ new head coach with a showdown against Wales at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday, July 6.

It is set to be a momentous occasion as it will be the first time that Wales have faced the Wallabies in Australia since 2012 and that encounter will be the first of a two-Test series against Warren Gatland’s charges.

The match will be part of a double-header between Australia’s women’s team, the Wallaroos, and their Fijian counterparts, the Fijiana.

The Wallabies will conclude their series against Wales the following week when they host them at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Saturday, July 13 and Schmidt and his troops will be determined to take revenge on the Welsh after they cruised to a 40-6 victory when these sides last met at the Rugby World Cup in France last year.

Following the series against Wales, Australia will host emerging European side Georgia at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, July 20. It will be a historic occasion as it will be the first time these two teams will meet outside of a World Cup.

Attention will then shift to the Rugby Championship which is headlined by the Wallabies’ back-to-back home Tests against world champions South Africa at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, August 10 and Perth’s Optus Stadium on Saturday, August 17.

Bledisloe Cup returns to Sydney

Australia’s last home Test of the year will see the Bledisloe Cup return to Sydney for the first game of the series at Accor Stadium on Saturday, September 21.

“We’re thrilled to announce a massive international season next year for the Wallaroos and the Wallabies on home soil with 10 Tests in total across the two teams,” said Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh in a statement.

“It’s particularly pleasing to know we are going to host Test matches in the four largest cities in Australia as we continue to invest in making the game more accessible to more Australians.

“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 oppositions at first-class stadiums.

“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.

“Rugby Australia would like to thank our Principal Partners Cadbury, along with all other commercial partners, including our broadcaster Stan and Nine for their ongoing support. We’d also like to thank all our State Government partners for their continued support in delivering world-class live sporting events here on home soil.”

Australia 2024 home Test schedule

Australia v Wales
Date: Saturday, July 6
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Australia v Wales
Date: Saturday, July 13
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne

Australia v Georgia
Date: Saturday, July 20
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup fixtures

Australia v South Africa
Date: Saturday, August 10
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Australia v South Africa
Date: Saturday, August 17
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth

Argentina v Australia
Date: Saturday, August 31
Venue: tbc

Argentina v Australia
Date: Saturday, September 7
Venue: tbc

Australia v New Zealand
Date: Saturday, September 21
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney

New Zealand v Australia
Date: Saturday, September 28
Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington

READ MORE: Wallabies star Kurtley Beale found not guilty of sexual assault offences