'A lot of hard work': Historic Rugby Championship double-headers locked in for Sydney, Parramatta
The Wallabies will kick off their Rugby Championship campaign in Brisbane against the All Blacks after SANZAAR confirmed the fixture list for the six-week tournament set to be held in Australia from November 7 to December 12.
After months of planning, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina are preparing to battle it out in a condensed Rugby Championship that will feature double-headers every Saturday, five of which will be in NSW at ANZ Stadium, Bankwest Stadium and McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper.Credit:Getty
It will be the first time tier-one rugby nations have taken part in double-headers. Kick-off times are yet to be confirmed.
After returning from playing two Sunday Bledisloe Cup matches in New Zealand on October 11 (Wellington) and October 18 (Auckland), the Wallabies will square off for their third game in a row against the Kiwis in Brisbane.
From there, the Wallabies will return to Sydney for a clash against World Cup winners South Africa at Bankwest Stadium.
Their next Test on November 21 will be against Argentina but the match of the day will be the blockbuster between the All Blacks and the Springboks, with ANZ Stadium set to host the fixture in order to get the largest possible crowd.
Round four of the Rugby Championship sees sides go north for a game in Newcastle before another game at Bankwest Stadium.
The Wallabies' last match of the year will be on December 12 at ANZ Stadium against the All Blacks, which will double as the fourth fixture of the Bledisloe Cup.
SANZAAR CEO Andy Marinos said: “It has taken a lot of hard work to get to this point. While the rescheduling and re-configuration of the Super Rugby season has not been ideal, all the member unions have been committed in getting rugby back on the field. Our broadcasters and commercial partners have been fantastic in working with us and continually adapting in what has been a very dynamic environment.”
Round one - Saturday 7th November - Suncorp Stadium
Argentina v South Africa, Australia v New Zealand
Round two - Saturday 14th November - Bankwest Stadium
New Zealand v Argentina, South Africa v Australia
Round three - Saturday 21st November - ANZ Stadium
New Zealand v South Africa, Australia v Argentina
Round four – Saturday 28th November, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Argentina v Australia, South Africa v New Zealand
Round five – Saturday 5th December - Bankwest Stadium
Argentina v New Zealand, Australia v South Africa
Round six – Saturday 12th December - ANZ Stadium
South Africa v Argentina, Australia v New Zealand
Tom Decent is a journalist with The Sydney Morning Herald