For the first time in history, the Wallabies will play two Tests in Perth in a calendar year — and one of them is a blockbuster against the Springboks.
Rugby Australia have confirmed the return of Test rugby to WA for the third year running, with the Wallabies to face Italy and South Africa out west in 2026.
The Wallabies will face Italy at HBF Park on July 18 in their final home match of the inaugural Nations Championship, a new biennial tournament which will see each of the four southern hemisphere giants (Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina) play three home and three away games against the Six Nations countries.
They will then reconvene in Perth on September 27 to face the back-to-back reigning world champions South Africa at Optus Stadium, a repeat of the two sides’ fixture on Australian soil in 2024.
With the Rugby Championship on hiatus in 2026 due to the All Blacks’ eight game, four Test tour of South Africa through August and September, the Springboks’ match in Perth will be their only match on Australian soil in 2026.
Despite Perth rugby fans missing out on Australia facing a big-name opponent in next year’s Rugby World Cup opener at Optus Stadium, 2026 will mark the third straight year the Wallabies have hosted either of their two biggest rivals after last October’s sold-out Bledisloe Cup game against New Zealand in Burswood.
It also means WA will host one-third of all Wallabies home Tests in 2026, with the national team also locked into facing Ireland and New Zealand in Sydney, France in Brisbane and Japan in Townsville.
Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh recently told the West Australian Perth’s strong attendances at Wallabies games made it easy to continue sending the national team out west
“We love coming to Perth. We love having the Wallabies here in Perth, and we always seem to engage new audiences and big crowds here as well,” he said.
“It’s a really exciting time, and we look forward to seeing the men in gold over here in the west.”
Tickets will go on sale to Wallabies First members, Super Rugby Pacific members, team rugby members throughout the week, while the general public can purchase tickets from next Monday.
