Australia & NZ step up XV programme
There is a double dose of good news for Australia’s 15s game with confirmation of two tests this year against the Black Ferns and the announcement of a new sponsor. New Zealand also confirm a European tour this November.
Published by Alison Donnelly, June 15th, 2016
3 minute read
Buildcorp will become naming-rights partners of the Wallaroos and upcoming Women’s National XVs Championships, ahead of a return to International Rugby for Australia with a two Test series against New Zealand’s Black Ferns, including a double header at the third Bledisloe Cup clash of 2016 on Saturday 22 October at Auckland’s Eden Park.The three match tour of New Zealand - they will also face an Auckland XV – comes ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, which be held in Dublin and Belfast next year.
The tests are the first for the Wallaroos since the last World Cup in 2014.
Meanwhile New Zealand have also confirmed that they will play three test games in Europe in November - against England at the Stoop and then Canada and Ireland in Dublin.Wallaroos Head Coach, Paul Verrell said “We are really looking forward to playing New Zealand. Our paths didn’t cross at the last World Cup and we are keen to improve on our performance when we last played in mid-2014.“Taking on New Zealand is one of the great traditions in Australian Rugby and we look forward to continuing this rivalry in October.”
Buildcorop have agreed a two-year partnership
ARU CEO Bill Pulver said; “Buildcorp have a history of supporting rugby’s growth markets, as we saw when they became the inaugural naming-rights partner of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship. Women’s rugby is now the fastest growing sport in the world, with 500k new female players across the world joining every year, for the past few years. With Buildcorp’s support, we will harness this momentum to ensure there is a place in our rugby community for all girls and women around Australia.”
Buildcorp Principal Josephine Sukkar said: “I have seen firsthand the hard work and dedication these inspirational athletes put into their game and their team. Nothing makes Buildcorp prouder than to support the Wallaroos as they begin their crucial preparations for the 2017 World Cup. In our 25 years supporting grassroots rugby, we’ve seen the exponential boost that investment and support gives to a team’s development and achievements. The recent Australian Women’s Sevens World Series win is testament to that. It’s our aim to give this same opportunity to the women who want to play XVs rugby and we look forward to seeing them thrive over the next two years.”
2016 Buildcorp Wallaroos Fixtures:Wallaroos v Auckland XV- Tuesday 18 OctoberWallaroos v Black Ferns- Saturday 22 OctoberWallaroos v Black Ferns- Wednesday 26 October
Black Fern November TestsSaturday, 19 November New Zealand Black Ferns v England, The Stoop Twickenham, LondonWednesday, 23 November New Zealand Black Ferns v Canada, Doonybrook Stadium, DublinSunday, 27 November New Zealand Black Ferns v Ireland, The Bowl, UND, Dublin