Israel Folau, Michael Hooper and the NSW Waratahs are coming to Newcastle – and it could be the first of many visits.
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In a coup, the Waratahs will take on the Sunwolves at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday, March 29.
It will be the first time the Tahs have hosted a Super Rugby game outside of Sydney. Their regular home ground Allianz Stadium is being rebuilt and is out of action until early 2022.
As well as Newcastle, the Tahs will play games at the new Parramatta Stadium, Brookvale Oval and the Sydney Cricket Ground.
NSW Rugby Union chief executive Andrew Hore praised the the facilities at McDonald Jones Stadium and said the decision to bring a game to Newcastle was a “no-brainer”.
“I have been lucky enough to attend a club final here in Newcastle,” Hore said. “We looked at areas that had strong and vibrant rugby communities, which was really important to us, and facilities such as this.”
More than 20,000 fans braved cyclonic conditions to watch the Wallabies lose 9-6 to Scotland in the last major rugby game at McDonald Jones Stadium in 2012.
“We believe there is the potential to hit that kind of target,” Hore said. “These sporting events outside Sydney really do work because people are hungry for that content. We have to take some ownership of our performances and come up here ready to play. It is a World Cup year as well, and you know players will be going out to put their best foot forward.
“The more we can be proactive in the community, the more than we can start the season on a high, then the chances are that we can reach that type of number.”
The City of Newcastle will contribute $50,000 towards the event and Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said it was another opportunity to showcase the region.
“We are all aware of the success of the Newcastle 500, and the Matildas matches, one coming up at McDonald Jones Stadium in a couple of weeks time,” Cr Nelmes said. “We can see the confidence sporting teams have in continually coming back to Newcastle.”
The Waratahs host Canterbury the weekend before the Newcastle game and Hore said the squad would most likely spend at least two days in the city in the lead-up to the Sunwolves game.
“We want to do as much as we can, not only to promote the fixture but rugby itself,” Hore said
Asked if Newcastle had the potential to host further Super Rugby games, Hore said: “There is an opportunity for that to be discussed.”
Assistant coach Chris Whitaker, a former halfback and captain, played in a trial against the Chiefs at McDonald Jones Stadium in 2004.
“They love their sport up here,” Whitaker said. “They have such a proud history, whether it is rugby league, football, surfing … That is one of the advantages of Allianz getting knocked down. We are a representative team. We are not a Sydney team, we are not a club team. These are the areas we represent as well.”
