Wallabies set for showdown against Fiji in Newcastle

The Wallabies will kick off a massive year for Australian rugby with a one-off Test match against Fiji on July 6 in Newcastle.

This fixture serves as their only warm-up match before their much-anticipated three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions.

The game holds extra significance as it marks the first meeting between the two nations since Fiji’s historic 2023 Rugby World Cup victory over Australia.

That shock defeat contributed to the Wallabies' first-ever group-stage exit from a World Cup, while Fiji went on to the quarterfinals before falling to England.

Australia’s last encounter with Fiji was a turning point in the 2023 tournament, as the Pacific Islanders, alongside Wales, advanced out of the group stage at the expense of the Wallabies.

Since then, Fiji has continued to prove their mettle, securing a first-ever victory over Wales in Cardiff last November and pushing England in a tightly contested quarterfinal.

Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt, who guided Australia to victories over England at Twickenham and Wales in Cardiff last year, believes the Fiji Test will be ideal preparation for facing the Lions.

"It will be great to get the squad together and to have a genuine Test match prior to the British and Irish Lions series," Schmidt said.

The highly anticipated British and Irish Lions tour returns to Australia for the 10th time since its first visit in 1899. The Lions have toured every 12 years since 1989, with their last visit in 2013, where they claimed a 2-1 series victory, clinching the decider with a commanding 41-16 win in Sydney.