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Wallaroos to face Fijiana to kick off 2023 international season
By Kim Ekin
The Buildcorp Wallaroos are excited to confirm their fixtures for the 2023 Pacific Four Series and O’Reilly Cup, which will lead into World Rugby’s inaugural WXV tournament in October.
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The Wallaroos will kick off their international season with a Test match against the Fijiana at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, in a blockbuster double-header that will also see the Waratahs take on the Fijian Drua in the Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific competition.
The 2023 season will make history for the Wallaroos, as the team is scheduled to play eight test matches; the most the team has ever played outside of a Rugby World Cup year.
“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 Wallaroos will kick off both the O’Reilly Cup and the Pacific Four Series against New Zealand in Brisbane, before heading to Canada for the final two rounds of the Pacific Four Series against the USA and Canada taking place in Ottawa in July.
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The Pacific Four Series will mark the first time the Wallaroos have played in Canada since the 2006 Rugby World Cup.
Following the Pacific Four Series, the Wallaroos will head to New Zealand for the second and final leg of the O’Reilly Cup.
“There’s such a wealth of opportunity for the Wallaroos this year, with more matches, more resources and more competition,” said Jay Tregonning, Head Coach of the Wallaroos.
“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.
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“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.”
A top three finish in the Pacific Four Series will see the Wallaroos qualify for World Rugby’s WXV1 tournament in October.
The WXV1 strand will include the top three teams from the Women’s Six Nations and the top three from the Pacific Four Series.
The WXV2 strand will see the fourth-ranked team from the Pacific Four Series compete against two teams from Europe, and winners from competitions across Oceania, Asia and Africa.
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
