- Australia to take on Italy and South Africa in Perth next year in two blockbuster rugby union matches
- Australian-exclusive games part of inaugural Nations Championship and highly anticipated Mandela Challenge Plate
- Attracting major events part of Cook Government's economic diversification strategy to generate valuable tourism dollars for local business and support local jobs
Perth is set for another blockbuster year of rugby union in 2026, with two premier Australian-exclusive international fixtures to be hosted in Western Australia.
Australia's Wallabies will take on Italy on Saturday, 18 July at HBF Park as part of the inaugural Nations Championship tournament, before playing defending world champions South Africa on Sunday, 27 September at Optus Stadium for the coveted Mandela Challenge Plate.
Secured by the Cook Government through Tourism WA, both matches are Australian exclusives, offering fans their only chance in 2026 to see the Wallabies take on Italy and South Africa on home soil.
The Nations Championship is a new biennial international tournament featuring 12 leading rugby nations, serving as a key milestone ahead of the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup which kicks off in Perth.
The Mandela Challenge Plate is awarded to the winner of a Test match series played between Australia's Wallabies and South Africa's Springboks, with the Perth fixture set to determine the champion in 2026.
Both matches will be broadcast live across Australia and around the world, showcasing Perth's world-class sporting facilities on a global stage to Tourism WA's key international markets.
The Wallabies and Springboks last faced off in Perth in 2024, with the match drawing a total international audience of almost 1.7 million viewers and bringing almost 3,000 out-of-state visitors to attend the match.
WA's golden decade of rugby continues to build with the addition of these two major fixtures, which has included a sold-out Bledisloe Cup in 2025, the announcement of a three-year deal to continue Rugby SVNS in Perth until 2028, and will culminate with the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup in Australia.
These blockbuster major events reinforce the government's commitment to economic diversification by creating an always-on, year-round calendar of events, drawing out-of-state visitors and generating valuable tourism dollars for local businesses and jobs.
Find out more at australia.rugby .
As stated by Tourism Minister Reece Whitby:
"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.
"These matches are expected to attract thousands of out-of-state visitors, showcase our city to a global audience through international broadcasts, and strengthen WA's reputation as a world-class host of major sporting events.
"Events like these not only strengthen our tourism sector through our government's economic diversification strategy, by delivering significant benefits to local businesses and jobs, but also extend the tourism season by attracting visitors during the winter months, enhancing Perth's vibrancy."
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:
"The inaugural Nations Championship and the Mandela Challenge Plate will bring the world's best rugby nations to Perth, giving local fans a front-row seat to elite international sport while also driving valuable tourism and economic activity.
"Our government understands how important these matches are for local communities and grassroots clubs across our State, which is why we fight so hard to deliver them.
"With HBF Park and Optus Stadium, we have the infrastructure to host global events of this calibre, and we're proud to showcase Western Australia on the world stage.
"By investing in these major events, we're creating an events calendar that attracts visitors year-round, supports local jobs, and delivers long-term benefits for Western Australians."
