The Lions coaching team of (L to R) Aled Walters, David Nucifora, Andy Farrell and Vinny Hammond in Sydney in mid-January. Photo: lionsrugby.com
The Wallabies will face Fiji in Newcastle, NSW, on July 6 in their only hit-out for this year’s three-Test British and Irish Lions tour.
And it will be the first time the two nations will meet since the 2023 Rugby World Cup where Fiji scored a shock 22-15 win in Saint Etienne, France.
The Wallabies last played at McDonald Jones Stadium in 2020 when they were held to a 15-all draw against Argentina.
“It will be great to get the squad together and to have a genuine Test match prior to the Lions series,” Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says in a statement.
“In their bid to make the semi-finals, Fiji were just six points shy of beating England at the last World Cup in 2023.
“They beat Wales in Cardiff last November and bring a physicality and flair that makes them entertaining to watch and tough to beat,” Schmidt says.
The game comes a day after the Lions face NSW Waratahs on their tour; the first Test is set for July 19.
The game will be Fiji’s first in Australia since 2017.
The Lions will play 10 games including a hit-out against Argentina in Ireland on June 21; their opponents will include a combined Australia/NZ and what is believed to be a Pasifika side to replace the now-defunct Melbourne Rebels.
Some of the games will also be played mid-week.
The third Lions Test shapes as Schmidt’s final game as Wallabies coach in the absence of news on whether he has signed a new contract.
NUCIFORA
Meanwhile, the Lions will have former Wallaby and Brumbies coach David Nucifora in their coaching squad.
He will serve as general manager for performance and has been seconded to the squad from Scottish Rugby where he holds a similar role.
Lions head coach and former English rugby league great Andy Farrell (from Ireland RU) told the Lions official website that Nucifora will bring “essential insight into Australian rugby and the country”.
LIONS GAMES
vs Argentina in Dublin on June 20 (warm-up).
vs Force in Perth on June 28.
vs Reds in Brisbane on July 2 (Wednesday).
vs NSW in Sydney on July 5.
vs Brumbies in Canberra on July 9 (Wednesday).
vs ANZAC XV in Adelaide on July 12.
vs Wallabies in Brisbane on July 19.
vs Pasifika XV in Melbourne on July 22 (Tuesday).
vs Wallabies in Melbourne on July 26.
vs Wallabies in Sydney on August 2.
