Expanded Wallaroos calendar confirmed for 2023

Wed, Mar 1, 2023, 10:57 PM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning and captain Shannon Parry spoke after their opening match of the Rugby World Cup.

The Wallaroos have confirmed their fixtures for the 2023 season leading up to World Rugby's inaugural WXV tournament in September.

The season will include eight Test matches, the most the team will play outside of a World Cup year.

Catch every game of Super W LIVE on Stan Sport. Start your Free Sport Trial Now

It will kick off with a Test against Fijiana on May 20 at Allianz Stadium, played as a double-header with the Waratahs-Drua in Super Rugby Pacific.

The Wallaroos will kick off both the O’Reilly Cup and the Pacific Four Series against New Zealand in Brisbane (June 29), before heading to Canada for the final two rounds of the Pacific Four Series against the USA (weekend of 8/9 July) and the hosts (weekend of 15/16 July in Ottawa.

The team will then head to New Zealand for the second leg of the O’Reilly Cup on September 30.

"It was fantastic to see the Wallaroos play a full season in 2022 – and to play in such a spirited and determined fashion on their way to the Quarter-Finals in the Rugby World Cup,” said Andy Marinos, CEO of Rugby Australia.

“Rugby Australia has recently announced a significant increase in funding and resources, with an additional two million dollars committed to Women’s XVs and central contracts for Wallaroos players in 2023.

“This additional investment and resourcing, combined with more Test matches will ensure that the Wallaroos can build on their strong performance at the Rugby World Cup as we look toward our home Rugby World Cup in 2029.”

The Pac Four will serve as the qualification for the WXV competition, with the top three teams advancing to WXV1 in October.

They will be joined by the top three teams in the Women's Six Nations, with the fourth-ranked team to play against two teams from Europe, and winners from competitions across Oceania, Asia and Africa.

There’s such a wealth of opportunity for the Wallaroos this year, with more matches, more resources and more competition,” added Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning.

“With an expanded coaching staff and the first ever fulltime Wallaroos Head of Athletic Performance at the helm, we’re raring to get stuck in.

“We are looking forward to building upon the outstanding determination and grit that the Wallaroos displayed last year. Since then, the coaches have had time to review areas of inconsistency and the players have a year of international matches under their belt – it’s going to be an exciting 2023 season.”

2023 WALLAROOS FIXTURES

Wallaroos v Fijiana: Saturday 20 May at Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Wallaroos v Black Ferns Thursday 29 June in Brisbane – Pacific Four Series & O’Reilly Cup

Wallaroos v USA weekend 8/9 July in Ottawa - Pacific Four Series

Wallaroos v Canada: weekend 15/16 July in Ottawa - Pacific Four Series

Black Ferns v Wallaroos: Saturday 30 September in New Zealand – O’Reilly Cup

WXV 1 or WXV 2: subject to qualification, October

Share