A large 12 months for Australian worldwide rugby will start with a revenge mission for one of many darkest days within the historical past of the Wallabies.
The staff will play a one-off Take a look at match towards Fiji in Newcastle on July 6, its solely hit-out earlier than the three-Take a look at sequence towards the British and Irish Lions.
The Newcastle sport would be the first match between the 2 nations since Fiji achieved a serious boilover within the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Fiji, together with Wales, progressed out of the group to the semifinals whereas Australia missed out on the knock-out section for the primary time in its historical past.
Fiji was narrowly overwhelmed by England within the quarterfinal of that World Cup, and final 12 months defeated Wales in Cardiff for the primary time.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, who guided Australia to wins towards England at Twickenham and Wales in Cardiff final spring, mentioned the Take a look at towards Fiji can be a wonderful preparation for the Lions.
“It is going to be nice to get the squad collectively and to have a real Take a look at match previous to the British and Irish Lions sequence,” Schmidt mentioned.
In its bid to make the semifinals, Fiji was simply six factors shy of beating England on the final World Cup in 2023.
The Flying Fijians beat Wales in Cardiff final November and produce a physicality and aptitude that makes the staff entertaining to observe and difficult to beat.
The British and Irish Lions sequence involves Australia for the tenth time because the inaugural tour in 1899.
The staff has toured each 12 years since 1989.
The guests claimed the 2013 sequence 2-1, with a 41-16 victory within the third and deciding Take a look at match at Stadium Australia.
