Newcastle set to host rare neutral Test between Japan and Ireland

Australia will host a neutral international match for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic when Ireland faces Japan in a few months, with the Nations Championship Test to be held at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium on July 11.

This will be the second men’s international played at the venue in about 12 months, with more than 28,000 fans watching the Wallabies secure a last-gasp 21-18 win over Fiji ahead of the Lions Series last July.

Three Nations Championship matches will be held across Australia and New Zealand on the same day. It starts with the All Blacks hosting Italy in Wellington, and ends with the Japan versus Ireland showdown at 8:00 AEST.

The Wallabies will come up against France at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium in the early evening, with that fixture set to kick off at 5:30 pm. It’ll be the team’s second Nations Championship Test, after facing Ireland in Sydney the week before.

This Japan Test is Ireland’s third confirmed match on Australian soil ahead of Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. It was announced last month the Irish would play the Wallabies at Canberra’s GIO Stadium less than two weeks before the tournament gets underway.

“The Rugby World Cup in Australia is a year away and the rugby-loving community in the Hunter will get an early experience of our great international game when the fast-improving Japan take on world No. 3 Ireland in Newcastle this July,” Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh said.

“Australia is blessed with some of the best sporting infrastructure in the world and, together with our valued partners at Venues NSW and the City of Newcastle, we are thrilled to host Eddie Jones, Andy Farrell and their squads for an historic Nations Championship Test at McDonald Jones Stadium.

“With the Wallabies’ exciting fixture list for 2026 already confirmed, Australian and international fans will now be treated to even more elite Test match rugby on our shores as we count down to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.”

The Japan-Ireland Test this July will be the latest instalment in a rugby rivalry that dates back to the 1991 World Cup. These teams have faced off 11 times, with the Irish winning all but one of those matches.

Jamie Joseph coached the Brave Blossoms to a famous victory against the Irish at their home Rugby World Cup in 2019. That ultimately saw Japan qualify for the quarter-finals, where they faced eventual champions South Africa.

“With Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia just around the corner, we’re delighted to face the formidable Irish team at McDonald Jones Stadium in July, which will also host Japan’s opening match at RWC 2027,” President of Japan Rugby Football Union Masato Tsuchida explained.

“We are sure that Japanese rugby fans will be excited to watch the match at this magnificent stadium, and the Japan national team will be very much looking forward to their stay in the beautiful city of Newcastle.

“We would be delighted if the local Australian community would keep an eye on the Japan national team, led by Head Coach Eddie Jones, and consider making the Brave Blossoms their second team come RWC.”

Irish Rugby Football Union President John O’Driscoll said: “The Nations Championship pits rivals from across both hemispheres and we are hugely excited to face Japan in what will be our second game of the forthcoming Nations Championship. We faced each other last November and this will be our twelfth meeting against the Cherry Blossoms.

“There’s enormous respect and familiarity between the two Unions. Every game is played in a positive manner and I expect the July encounter to be no different coming, as it does, in the unique setting of McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.

“I would like to thank our friends in the Japan Rugby Football Union and our hosts Rugby Australia for their cooperation in staging this game. I have no doubt that the Ireland team will be backed by a huge Irish following in Newcastle.”