Wales get set for Aussie challenge

WALES‘ two-Test tour of Australia in July will see matches take place in Sydney and Melbourne.

Warren Gatland will take his side to face the Wallabies this summer for Joe Schmidt’s first games in charge of Australia.

The first international will take place at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on July 6 with the second Test at AAMI Park in Melbourne on July 13.

Wales last toured Australia in 2012, when they lost their series 3-0 but have enjoyed successive World Cup victories against the Wallabies in 2019 and 2023.

Wales are in negotiations about a tour warm-up match against South Africa at Twickenham in June.

Cleared: Kurtley Beale

After facing Wales, Australia meet Georgia in Sydney on July 20 for the first time outside of a World Cup ahead of the Rugby Championship. Kurtley Beale will be available for Australia after he was found not guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a Sydney pub bathroom. Rugby Australia suspended Beale from all forms of rugby last January. Full-back Beale, who has played 95 times for his country, returned to Australia in 2022 after a spell with French team Racing 92 to play for New South Wales Waratahs.