Wales to finish long season with Queensland Reds fixture in Brisbane
- Published
Australia scrum-half Tate McDermott scores for Queensland Reds in the 2024 Super Rugby season
Wales will finish their 11-month season with a match against Queensland Reds in Brisbane on 19 July.
The game will follow two Tests against Australia in Sydney and Melbourne as well as South Africa in Twickenham on 22 June.
The Queensland fixture will be the 18th match of Wales' season that began on 5 August, 2023 against England.
"I'm excited about the Wales fixture list this summer," said head coach Warren Gatland.
Wales held gruelling training camps in Switzerland and Turkey in July last year before three World Cup warm-up games the following month.
Five matches in the global tournament in France followed before an uncapped fixture against Barbarians in November.
Gatland's side will play five matches in the Six Nations tournament before the quartet of summer games takes the 2023-24 season total to 18, which includes 16 internationals and two uncapped fixtures.
However, it is not the most demanding season Wales have faced, having played 21 games in the 2011-12 season, also a World Cup year.
"To have the opportunity for our young squad to test itself against the world champions [South Africa] at a neutral venue is an extremely important experience and something that we will relish," said Gatland.
"It should also be a great occasion for the fans and something a little bit different for them.
"We're also excited for the opportunity we have with our two Tests in Australia in July.
"We know the Wallabies will be hurting after the World Cup but Australia is a tough place to go and we're expecting a fired up side led by new head coach Joe Schmidt.
"We were keen to have a third fixture while in Australia so are pleased we have been able to arrange that with the Queensland Reds to finish up our trip Down Under."
'Perfect climax'
The Suncorp Stadium is the home of the Queensland Reds
The fixture will take place on a Friday following the two Saturday internationals in Sydney on 6 July and Melbourne seven days later.
Wales last played at Suncorp Stadium in 2012, then known as Lang Park, when they lost 27-19 to the Wallabies.
WRU executive director of rugby Nigel Walker said facing Queensland will provide the "perfect climax" to a summer on the road.
"We should arrive in Brisbane battle-hardened and ready for action," said Walker.
"The game is a nod to traditional tours when Test teams regularly took on club sides during their travels and we look forward to celebrating the end of a tough season in style."
It will be the first clash for the Reds against a major touring nation in two decades since they beat Scotland 41-5 at Ballymore Stadium in 2004. It will also be the first time the Reds have faced Wales since 1991, when the hosts won 35-24.
Queensland Reds say the fixture was arranged after "the WRU expressed an eagerness to play an extra game on their two-Test tour of Australia".
"We want international sides to see a tour game against the Reds as an essential part of their tours to Australia," said Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) chief executive David Hanham.
"With the British and Irish Lions game against Queensland next year locked in, and the new Nations Championship coming in 2026, there are lots of opportunities for our fans to watch the Reds face top-flight opposition outside of Super Rugby."
Six Nations 2024: BBC rugby team take on Oscars quickfire questions