Test rugby returns to Perth
International rugby returns to Perth with the Wallabies announcing Tests against Argentina and South Africa at the home of the Western Force, nib Stadium, in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
The final Rugby Championship match on home soil for the Wallabies in 2016 will double as the inaugural Test at the rectangular venue, where Western Australian fans will experience the action closer than ever before when the Wallabies host Argentina on Saturday, September 17.
Test rugby will then return to the venue, known by locals as the 'Force field', the following season when the Wallabies host South Africa in a blockbuster 2017 Rugby Championship clash.
Australian Rugby Union CEO Bill Pulver said: "nib Stadium is a wonderful venue and certainly delivers a fantastic atmosphere when the 'Sea of Blue' fill the stands for Western Force matches.
"We want that sea of blue to turn gold on September 17 when the Wallabies host the Pumas from Argentina next year, and again when we welcome the Springboks back to Perth in 2017.
"Our fans deserve the best possible experience when they come to a Test match and a move to a rectangular venue which is fan-friendly and purpose-built for rugby is a great outcome for fans.
"I would like to thank the Western Australian Government for their support of the Wallabies and Australian Rugby and we look forward to bringing the Wallabies to nib Stadium for the first time next year."
Prior to the clash with Argentina on September 17, the Wallabies will host Rugby Championship matches against the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium, Sydney, on August 20, and the Springboks at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on September 10.
This schedule, in addition to a history-making three Test series against England in June, will ensure the domestic calendar of Test matches in 2016 is one of the most highly-anticipated in recent history.
Australia will also play away matches against the All Blacks (August 27), South Africa (October 1) and Argentina (October 8) in 2016 as the Rugby Championship reverts to its traditional home-and-away format after a truncated 2015 schedule.
Australia 2016 Rugby Championship home schedule:
Australia v New Zealand, Saturday August 20, ANZ Stadium Sydney
Australia v South Africa, Saturday September 10, Suncorp Stadium Brisbane
Australia v Argentina, Saturday September 17, nib Stadium Perth
Confirmed 2017 Rugby Championship Test – Australia v South Africa (date TBC), nib Stadium Perth