Wallaroos to play seven Tests to prepare for World Cup

The Wallaroos will hope to build on recent performances during a bumper 2025 international calendar. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

The Wallaroos have a busy international campaign scheduled as they build into next year's Women's Rugby World Cup in England.

After finishing this year on a high with victory in the WXV15 2 tournament in South Africa, the Australian women are looking to again reach the play-off stage at the showpiece tournament.

The Wallaroos will play seven Tests leading into the World Cup in late August, with five on home turf.

They will open their Test season with a match against Fijiana in Fiji on May 3 before competing in the Pacific Four series in Australia.

Jo Yapp.
Jo Yapp gets her side ready for a clash with New Zealand at Ballymore last July.

The Wallaroos will host New Zealand, the USA and Canada with matches set down for Newcastle, Canberra and Brisbane.

Both games against the US and Canada will be played as double-headers with Super Rugby Pacific fixtures.

A three-week Test block will see an away trip to Wellington in July for a second match against the Black Ferns in the O’Reilly Cup.

Jo Yapp's team will then host Wales in two Test matches in southeast Queensland and Sydney.

The Australians and Welsh have formed a fierce rivalry of late, with both nations recording a victory each in 2024.

After winning Australia's first ever silverware in Cape Town, Yapp said the calendar would allow her team to be at their best for the World Cup.

They open that tournament on August 23 against Samoa in Manchester.

"The 2025 season is going to be a really exciting year for the Wallaroos," Yapp said.

"The opportunity to play seven Test matches leading into the 2025 Rugby World Cup will provide a fantastic platform for us to continue to grow as a squad following our WXV 2 title win in Cape Town.

"Playing a Test match in Fiji before the Pacific Four series allows us to build into that tournament and we welcome further Test matches against New Zealand and Wales throughout July before we travel to England."

WALLAROOS' 2025 TEST SCHEDULE (times TBC):

* Saturday, May 3 v Fijiana, Fiji (venue TBC)

* Saturday, May 10 v Black Ferns - McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle (Pacific Four Series)

* Saturday, May 17 v USA - GIO Stadium, Canberra (Pacific Four Series)

* Friday, May 23 v Canada - Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (Pacific Four Series)

* Saturday, July 12 v Black Ferns - Sky Stadium, Wellington (O’Reilly Cup)

* Saturday, July 26 v Wales - southeast Queensland (venue TBC)

* Friday, August 1 v Wales - Sydney (venue TBC).

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