Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt fully supportive of possible Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup Test

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has thrown his support behind a much-touted, historic Bledisloe Cup Test on Anzac Day and backed Perth as a potential host city. After Rugby New Zealand last week admitted they were open to the proposal and the fixture could occur as early next year, Schmidt floated the idea of a trans-Tasman double-header involving the Wallabies and Wallaroos and their Kiwi counterparts. While the match has not yet been confirmed as happening and no formal negotiations process has begun over the host city, Perth and Brisbane are reportedly the favourites to land the fixture, given traditional major Anzac Day sporting events in Sydney and Melbourne. Rugby Australia have long supported the concept, and the women’s national team hosted New Zealand at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Anzac Day this year. New Zealander Schmidt, who will finish up his run as Wallabies coach after their first three Nations Championship fixtures in July, said he was all for the idea. “How good would that be? I’d love to see that. They had the Wallaroos vs the Kiwi girls — imagine a double-header, where both teams go at it,” he said. “We are the Anzac nations and it would set the Bledisloe up really well, into a three-match series.” While traditionally southern hemisphere Tests take place post-Super Rugby Pacific season in June, Schmidt said he believed an Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup game could break up the league season nicely. “It would be a really good early-season taste for international footy in an isolated window, and I do think the Super clubs could work around it,” he said. “Having coached a lot in the northern hemisphere, they have three bites at the cherry during the season, whereas our season is very much split, first-half Super, second-half international, to mix it up a little bit. “The players would adapt, and teams would adapt to that. I’d love to see it happen.” Two of Optus Stadium’s highest-ever crowds were for Australia-New Zealand Tests, including a record of 61,241 in 2019. Schmidt has coached the Wallabies in two separate Tests at the Stadium, against South Africa in 2024 and the All Blacks in 2025, and said Perth’s strengths lay in its strong multicultural rugby community and facilities. “We know they’re going to get good support — there are a few Kiwis in Perth, it was like playing South Africa here in Perth as well, there is a very multicultural feel, particularly in terms of rugby people in the community around here,” he said. “Optus is a super stadium, it’s vocal...you get to play a really good brand of rugby in Perth because the conditions are conducive to open rugby.” Anzac Day falls on a Sunday next year, which would offer perfect timeslots for live sport. Fremantle Dockers have hosted their Len Hall Tribute Game at Optus Stadium on Anzac Day night the past two years and Fremantle chief executive Simon Garlick told The West Sport Show in February he wanted it to be held on that date every year. “If we build that into a fixture on ANZAC Day, it is an opportunity for us to have a national marquee game,” he said. The Dockers were contacted for comment.