The Wallaroos were already set for a bumper year in 2025 with the World Cup in England – however, Jo Yapp’s side will have a busy schedule leading up to the tournament with the confirmation of the remainder of their 2025 schedule.
Next year will see the women in gold play an additional seven matches before their first World Cup fixture, which will include co-hosting the Pacific series for a consecutive year with New Zealand, followed by a two-match home series against Wales.
The year will kick off less than a month after the conclusion of Super Rugby Women’s, with the now annual fixture against Fiji set to be played on the island nation for the first time ever.
The Wallaroos had a massive year in 2024 – winning WXV 2 and qualifying for the Rugby World Cup. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The Pacific Four Series will see the Wallaroos head to regional centres, with a headlining game against the Black Ferns set to take place at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle – the first time the national side has returned to the Hunter since 2019.
They will also return to Canberra for the first time since 2008, hosting the USA Eagles – who may include the most followed player in World Rugby, Ilona Maher in their ranks in a doubleheader with the ACT Brumbies-Queensland Reds Super Rugby Pacific clash.
The series will conclude with a second doubleheader with the Reds-Hurricanes clash at Suncorp Stadium, which will see the Wallaroos take on WXV 1 champions Canada.
The Wallaroos will then finalise their World Cup preparations with their second away match of the year in July against the Black Ferns at Sky Stadium in Wellington.
They will then return for a two-match series in July/August as their final matches before the World Cup, hosting Wales in Queensland and Sydney. The match will take place the day before the deciding British and Irish Lions Test against the Wallabies, also in Sydney.
Following this, the side will head to England for their first match of the Rugby World Cup on August 23rd, against Samoa.
CHECK OUT ALL UPCOMING FIXTURES FOR THE WALLAROOS HERE<<<
“The 2025 season is going to be a really exciting year for the Wallaroos,” said Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp.
“The opportunity to play seven Test matches leading into the 2025 Rugby World Cup will provide a fantastic platform for us to continue to grow as a squad following our WXV 2 title win in Cape Town.
“Playing a Test match in Fiji before the Pacific Four series allows us to build into that tournament and we welcome further Test matches against New Zealand and Wales throughout July before we travel to England.”
Should the Wallaroos make it through the Pool stages of the World Cup against the USA, Samoa and England, they set up a potential showdown with Canada, Fiji, Scotland or Wales in the quarter-finals. A semi-final berth would see the side play 12 Tests in a year – the most ever in Wallaroo history.
The fixture list is set to be a significant challenge, but the next logical step forward in the growth of the side, according to General Manager of Women’s High Performance, Jaime Fernandez.
FIND OUT THE LATEST WALLAROO SQUAD NEWS HERE<<<
“2024 has been a significant year for the Wallaroos,” he said in a statement.
“We played the highest number of Tests in a calendar year, toured Ireland and Wales and won WXV 2 in South Africa, bringing home the first ever piece of silverware in the program’s history.
“The program also saw increased investment through direct player funding, increased assembly and camp time and increases in coaching and support staffing resources.
“We are excited by the opportunities 2025 presents. Five of the seven Tests will be played in Australia, providing a platform to showcase the women’s game to home crowds and readying the team for the largest women’s RWC in the sport’s history.
“We look forward with anticipation and excitement to what will unfold in 2025.”
WALLAROOS 2025 TEST SCHEDULE
- Saturday, May 3: Wallaroos v Fijiana, Venue TBC, Fiji, (time TBC)
Pacific Four Series - Saturday, May 10: Wallaroos v Black Ferns, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, (time TBC)
- Saturday, May 17: Wallaroos v USA, GIO Stadium, Canberra*, (time TBC)
- Friday, May 23: Wallaroos v Canada, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane*, (time TBC)
Laurie O’Reilly Cup - Saturday, July 12: Wallaroos v Black Ferns, Sky Stadium, Wellington, (time TBC)
Wales Series - Saturday, July 26: Wallaroos v Wales, Venue TBC, South East Queensland, (time TBC)
Friday, August 1: Wallaroos v Wales, Venue TBC, Sydney, (time TBC)
2025 Rugby World Cup Pool Matches - Saturday, August 23: Wallaroos v Samoa, Salford Community Stadium, Manchester (9:00pm AEST)
- Sunday, August 31: Wallaroos v USA at York Community Stadium, York (4:30am AEST)
- Sunday, September 7: Wallaroos v England at Brighton and Hove Stadium, Brighton and Hove (2:00am AEST)
*denotes doubleheader with Super Rugby Pacific
Nick Wasilievhttps://https://ift.tt/4EoYpl8: Wallaroos announce seven pre-World Cup fixtures in 2025, set to co-host Pacific Four series, Wales tour
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