Next regional Wallabies Test in Queensland on track to go to Townsville
TOWNSVILLE’S shiny new stadium will host the next regional rugby Test in Queensland unless Gold Coast fans make a late stampede to Saturday night’s match against Argentina.
Rugby
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rugby. Followed categories will be added to My News.
TOWNSVILLE’S shiny new stadium will host the next regional rugby Test in Queensland unless Gold Coast fans make a late stampede to Saturday night’s Test at Cbus Super Stadium.
“So Where The Bloody Hell Are You?” should be borrowed as the pitch to the coast’s fickle sports fans after it worked wonders to woo tourists to Australia more than a decade ago.
The first visit to the Gold Coast by Michael Hooper’s Wallabies in four years should be enough to lock in a healthy crowd but just where ticket sales land is a mystery.
There is a strong chance the roll-up to watch a quality duel against the Argentinians will dip below the 14,281-strong crowd when the teams met on the same turf in 2014.
No way will it reach the healthy 2012 level of 22,278 when they brought a Test to the coast for the first time.
Part of the malaise were the body blows to the Wallabies’ appeal when thumped twice by the All Blacks last month before some gutsy, winning repair work against South Africa.
The other one-off factor is that more than 1000 of the coast’s most diehard rugby fans and families are heading to Brisbane with The Southport School for the GPS schools finale against Nudgee College earlier the same day.
Wallabies flyhalf Kurtley Beale saluted the “fast track” at Robina this week and coach Michael Cheika reinforced it by saying the “awesome stadium” would be one of the best and most intimate the Wallabies play at this year.
The new North Queensland Stadium will be finished and open for business for the 2020 NRL season with the Cowboys but luring other major sporting events is very much part of the blueprint.
The Wallabies are locked into playing the All Blacks at the grand new stadium in Perth next year and the idea of taking rugby to different territory is always of interest to Rugby Australia.
Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle wants the Gold Coast to enjoy this Test occasion and the community feel to the full.
Financial pressures for the governing body mean potential money-spinners like a Test at a new stadium will always be considered.
“The new stadium is going to be a fantastic facility for Townsville and probably longer term is something we’d like to play in,” Castle said.
Fans turned out in force for a 27,000-strong sellout at the Gold Coast venue to make rugby sevens finals day one of the most pulsating outdoor venue experiences at the Commonwealth Games in April.
Equally, the 26,681 roll-up just last month for the Titans-Cowboys NRL clash was triggered by the special event status of Johnathan Thurston’s final game.
Get ready for cricket like never before. FREE Sport HD + Entertainment until the first 4K cricket ball as part of 3 months free on a 12 month plan. SIGN UP TODAY. T&Cs apply.
Rugby Sevens golden girl’s quest for LA games as a mum
She won Aussie hearts as a fresh-faced youngster steamrolling opponents on her way to Olympic gold. Now Charlotte Caslick wants to add mum to her list of titles on the way to a fourth Games.
‘It will change your life’: Wallaby’s message of hope after ADHD diagnosis
After years of grappling for an extreme and compulsive workload, Wallaby Carlo Tizzano sought help. And he says what happened next changed his life — and rugby career — for the better.