Bledisloe drought breaker even tougher

As if winning the Bledisloe Cup for the first time in more than two decades isn’t hard enough for the Wallabies.

Now they’ll have to win the sixth Test of a massive 2025 home campaign to end their winning drought against the All Blacks with a home clash locked in for Perth after the series against the British and Irish Lions.

Focus on the Lions’ three-match series has begun, with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt declaring preparing $5m NRL convert Joseph Suaalii to face the touring behemoth next year was one of the reasons for his quick elevation to the Wallabies line-up for the Spring Tour of the UK next month.

How the Wallabies go in Tests against England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland could seriously impact expectations for next year’s tour, which will form the backbone of a massive six-match run, culminating in the Perth showdown with New Zealand.

The fixture will be part of the 2025 Rugby Championship and held on October 4 after the three matches against the Lions in July and August and two Tests against Argentina, one in Townsville and another in Sydney in September.

It will be just the third time the Bledisloe Cup clash has been held in Perth.

“We saw again this year the massive support for the game in Perth with over 58,000 supporters at Optus Stadium for the South Africa match and I’m sure we’ll see great interest when the Bledisloe Cup Test returns to Western Australia next year,” Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said.

“To be able to return to Townsville demonstrates our commitment to making our national teams more accessible to more Australians and we look forward to returning to Sydney the following week for what’s always a strong supporter base for the Wallabies.”

Australia has success against the All Blacks in Perth, including a mammoth 47-26 victory in 2019 in what is still a record points haul against their trans-Tasman rivals.

It was also the most points conceded by New Zealand in their history against any nation.

But the Wallabies have not been able to conquer the All Blacks in the two-match series since 2002, the last time they held the Bledisloe Cup.

Wallabies 2025 home Tests

British & Irish Lions tour

Wallabies v British & Irish Lions, Saturday, July 19 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Wallabies v British & Irish Lions, Saturday, July 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Wallabies v British & Irish Lions, Saturday, August 2 at Accor Stadium, Sydney

The Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup

Wallabies v Argentina, Saturday, September 6 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

Wallabies v Argentina, Saturday, September 13 at Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Wallabies v New Zealand, Saturday, October 4 at Optus Stadium, Perth