Newcastle welcomed to Test arena
The Australian Rugby Union on Friday announced an historic one-off International between the Wallabies and Scotland at the Ausgrid Stadium in Newcastle next year.
The game, on Tuesday, June 5, will open the 2012 domestic Test season.
The International will be the Wallabies’ inaugural Test in Newcastle and the first meeting between the two teams since the Scots defeated Australia 9-8 at Murrayfield in 2009 – a win that saw them break a 27-year losing streak to the Men in Gold.
Wallaby centre Adam Ashley-Cooper said he was looking forward to the historic Test against the Scots at Ausgrid Stadium next year, allowing him to pull on the iconic gold jersey just a short drive from where he was raised.
“When I was growing up on the Central Coast, I would have never imagined getting the opportunity to come back and play a Test for Australia in the nearby Hunter region,” Ashley-Cooper said.
“It will be good to be part of the first Wallabies team to play a Test in Newcastle.
“There is a strong level of support for the game in the Hunter – and a great history of Wallabies to have come from the region – so I’m sure that a big crowd will come out to get behind us against Scotland.”
The Scottish side has strong ties with Australia with two of their 50-plus Test stars, flyhalf, Dan Parks, and second rower, Nathan Hines, both hailing from NSW.
Prior to being selected in the Scotland side, Parks played a number of years in Sydney’s Shute Shield competition, running out for Easts, Wests and Souths, whilst Hines spent his junior years a little closer to the Central Coast playing football on Sydney’s north shore before heading to the northern hemisphere.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, said Newcastle was the perfect place to host the one off Test match.
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson also welcomed Friday’s announcement.
“We’re really pleased to have this fixture as part of our tour in June which will also encompass Test matches against Fiji and Samoa,” Robinson said.
“The last time we played against Australia was a very good game and a special win for Scotland.
“We’re very much looking forward to going to Newcastle and playing our part in the inaugural Test match at the stadium there.”
