Perth’s golden run of international rugby continues this year, with Perth confirmed as the sole Australian host for two blockbuster Wallabies fixtures that will bring some of the sport’s biggest names to Western Australia.
The Wallabies will face Italy at HBF Park on Saturday, July 18th, as part of the brand-new Nations Championship tournament, before a mouth-watering clash with defending world champions South Africa at Optus Stadium on Sunday, September 27th, for the Mandela Challenge Plate. Both matches are Australian exclusives, meaning Perth is the only place in the country where fans can watch the Wallabies take on these two rugby powerhouses on home soil.
Tourism Minister Reece Whitby said, “What a fantastic opportunity for fans to experience world-class rugby action right here in Western Australia, the fastest-growing events destination in the South East Asia region, with the Wallabies taking on both Italy and South Africa in two epic showdowns in 2026.”
A new era of international rugby
The Nations Championship is a brand-new biennial tournament bringing together 12 of the world’s leading rugby nations, and it couldn’t come at a better time. With the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup set to kick off right here in Perth, the tournament serves as a tantalising preview of the elite international rugby that WA fans can expect over the coming years.
Discover Perth's Best Stays
The Mandela Challenge Plate is awarded to the winner of the Test series between the Wallabies and the Springboks, and the Perth fixture will determine who takes home the 2026 title.
The Wallabies and Springboks last met in Perth in 2024, with the match drawing an international broadcast audience of almost 1.7 million viewers and bringing close to 3,000 interstate visitors to the city.
That momentum has carried through a sold-out Bledisloe Cup in 2025 and a three-year deal to keep Rugby SVNS in Perth until 2028. It all builds towards the ultimate prize: hosting duties for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup.
What you need to know
The two matches will be broadcast live across Australia and around the world. For those keen to be in the stands, the key dates to lock in are:
- Saturday, July 18th at HBF Park for Australia versus Italy
- Sunday, September 27th at Optus Stadium for Australia versus South Africa
