- Western Australia to host Wallabies vs Springboks in August 2024
- Match set to attract thousands of out-of-state visitors, as part of the 2024 Rugby Championship
- Will follow launch of inaugural Johannesburg direct flight in April
Western Australia will be in the international sporting spotlight once again after securing a Rugby Championship showdown between the Wallabies and South Africa’s Springboks later this year.
Rugby Australia has today released the Wallabies Rugby 2024 Test Schedule, with Australia’s national team to take on current Rugby World Cup champions, the Springboks, in Perth on Saturday, 17 August 2024.
The blockbuster match will be the Wallabies’ second encounter against South Africa in the 2024 Rugby Championship and is set to attract thousands of out-of-state visitors to the award-winning Optus Stadium, generating millions of dollars for the local economy.
The announcement further grows WA’s reputation and legacy in hosting world-class sporting events, with recent success hosting FIFA Women’s World Cup matches, Matildas’ Olympic qualifiers, English Premier League exhibition matches and the United Cup, plus upcoming events such as the Triple World Title Boxing.
The match is also the most recent in a rush of rugby fever in WA, following the recent HSBC SVNS Perth 2024 tournament hosted at Perth’s HBF Stadium, and last year’s announcement of the first match of the British and Irish Lions Tour coming to Optus Stadium in 2025.
These matches are at the beginning of Australia’s ‘golden decade’ of rugby as WA joins the rest of country in preparing to host the Rugby World Cup in 2027 and 2029.
The announcement of the Wallabies vs Springboks match also coincides with the upcoming return of non-stop flights between Johannesburg and Perth, which will support more than 39,000 additional inbound passengers from South Africa into WA each year.
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As stated by Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti:
“We know the huge benefits that hosting major international sporting events like this bring to Western Australia, so we’re very excited to be hosting this blockbuster between two proud rugby nations.
“It’s yet another opportunity to showcase Western Australia to the world, with high-profile events like the 2024 Rugby Championship attracting extensive media coverage and shining a spotlight on our State as a vibrant sporting capital.
“We’re expecting thousands of out-of-state visitors to come to WA, and of course, it will be even easier for South African fans to make the journey over with the direct flight from Johannesburg relaunching in April.
“Importantly, Western Australian businesses will also benefit from this major event with millions of dollars in visitor spend expected to be generated for our local tourism and hospitality operators.”
Comments attributed to Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman:
“Our reputation as a world-class destination for sporting events continues to go from strength to strength and we’re very pleased to be hosting the Wallabies and Springboks at our award-winning Optus Stadium.
“Attracting major sporting events like this creates local jobs, supports local businesses and helps to drive economic activity – a win for all Western Australians.
“We have a very proud South African community here in WA, so no doubt friends will become foes for the evening in what’s shaping up to be another blockbuster rugby event here in Perth.”
