For the first time in 123 years of trans-Tasman rugby rivalry, the Wallabies will play the All Blacks on ANZAC Day to contest the Bledisloe Cup, with Suncorp Stadium locked in to host the historic fixture in 2027, 2029 and 2031.
New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia announced the new tradition together, confirming the inaugural match will kick off in a family-friendly early afternoon time slot on Sunday 25 April 2027, placing one of sport’s fiercest Test rivalries on one of both nations’ most significant shared days.
A century of rivalry meets a century of remembrance
The Bledisloe Cup has been contested between Australia and New Zealand since 1931, though the two nations have faced each other in Test rugby since 1903.
The decision to anchor a fixture to ANZAC Day draws on the deep historical and cultural ties the two countries share, ties forged not just through sport but through the men and women who served together in conflicts from Gallipoli to the Western Front and beyond.
New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Lancaster said the combination of sporting rivalry and shared history made the timing feel genuinely meaningful. “New Zealand and Australia share a special and unique bond built on sporting rivalries, friendship and those men and women who have served our countries in global conflicts, some making the ultimate sacrifice in doing so,” he said.
“Playing the Bledisloe Cup on ANZAC Day creates a unique trans-Tasman sporting occasion that honours our countries’ shared history and cultures, while bringing people together through rugby.”
Brisbane takes centre stage
Brisbane’s large New Zealand diaspora made it a natural home for the fixture. Lancaster noted that the city had long functioned as a home away from home for New Zealanders living in Australia, and that the ANZAC Day Test would give those communities a reason to gather on one of the most resonant days in both nations’ calendars.
“Brisbane has long been seen as a home away from home with a large New Zealand population living there and we see this as a huge opportunity to work in partnership with Rugby Australia to grow the game in a key market,” Lancaster said.
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh said the first-ever ANZAC Day Bledisloe would do more than fill a stadium. “The first ever staging of an ANZAC Day Bledisloe Cup Test will, we believe, create a new trans-Tasman sporting tradition that will bring our nations together and reinforce our shared values,” he said.
Suncorp Stadium and the fixture structure
Suncorp Stadium holds 52,500 seats across three tiers and has a well-established record as one of Australia’s premier rugby venues.
The stadium is directly connected to Milton train station via a dedicated pedestrian walkway and sits within walking distance of the Milton CityCat terminal, making it easily accessible for large match-day crowds.
Each ANZAC Day Test will kick off a three-match Bledisloe Cup series, with Australia and New Zealand meeting twice more later in the year during The Rugby Championship. The series will return to two Tests in 2028 and 2030 because of the Nations Championship schedule.
The Wallabies will run out at Suncorp Stadium for the three confirmed ANZAC Day fixtures on Sunday 25 April 2027, Wednesday 25 April 2029 and Friday 25 April 2031, all at Suncorp Stadium.
Ticketing details will be announced at a later date.
Published 2-July-2026
