Wallabies set for first-ever Rugby Championship match in Newcastle

Newcastle will host its first ever Test in The Rugby Championship when the Qantas Wallabies and Argentina clash at McDonald Jones Stadium on September 5.

The Wallabies will return to the heart of the Hunter for the first time in over eight years, having last played in Newcastle in a now infamous defeat to Scotland in 2012.

The match will be the fourth outing for the Wallabies in their 2020 Rugby Championship campaign, following home-and-away fixtures against New Zealand and a trip to Perth to face the Springboks.

The return to McDonald Jones Stadium for the Wallabies comes on the back of an historic first women’s Test in the Hunter between the Buildcorp Wallaroos and Japan in July 2019.

Rugby Australia Chief Executive, Raelene Castle said: “Newcastle is a sports-mad city and the support for both men’s and women’s Rugby is almost second to none across the country.

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“We can’t wait to showcase the Wallabies in one of our strongest Rugby communities and getting out and about in the community to allow locals to get up close and personal with the team.

“If the support from the region for the Buildcorp Wallaroos Test last year is any guide, the first ever Rugby Championship match is going to be one of the biggest events of the year and will certainly be one of the highlights of our 2020 Test match calendar.”

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said: “Major events play a crucial role in driving tourism right across our State so we are delighted such a significant international Test will be played in the beautiful coastal city of Newcastle.

“The NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW is committed to continuing to build a top-class events calendar, and this clash between the Wallabies and Argentina is no exception.

“I strongly encourage all sporting fans to book in a weekend trip to Newcastle in September to not only get behind our national rugby union team, but to enjoy the many culinary, arts and scenic delights this spectacular part of regional NSW has to offer.”

Lord Mayor of Newcastle Nuatali Nelmes said the City was once again delighted to partner with Rugby Australia on an event that will likely draw a huge crowd to McDonald Jones Stadium under lights.

“I’m delighted to welcome the Wallabies back to Newcastle after an eight-year hiatus and thrilled that our partnership with Rugby Australia continues to grow after we successfully hosted the Wallaroo’s first ever Test Match against Japan on Australian soil last July,” Councillor Nelmes said.

“Novocastrians are very educated sports fans and know that the open, attacking brand of rugby that both the Wallabies and Pumas play will make for an evening spectacle not to be missed at the start of Spring, when the weather should be much more conducive than the torrential June rain that hampered the Scottish Test back in 2012.

“The return of the Wallabies after tomorrow’s Super Rugby match underlines Newcastle’s capacity to host major sporting events, such as rugby and rugby league Tests, football internationals during the 2015 Asian Cup, and of course the highly popular annual Supercars finale, which we also deliver with Destination NSW.”

- Rugby Australia

Reds coach Brad Thorn and captain Liam Wright are looking forward to the opportunity for redemption this weekend: