NSW Waratahs partner with the City of Newcastle

City of Newcastle will host its first ever Waratahs match at McDonald Jones Stadium next year, as the Super Rugby franchises home at Allianz Stadium is knocked down and rebuilt.

As part of the state government’s $1.5 billion stadium plan, next year’s fixture would be the first time the State team has taken a home game to a destination outside of Sydney.

NSW Rugby chief executive Andrew Hore said: “The NSW Waratahs are a state team and the next three years provide us with a great opportunity to take Super Rugby to different venues and showcase the game from the bush to the beach.”

”Their support has been tremendous and we are delighted to take our NSW Waratahs to a strong rugby region.”

The City of Newcastle secured the NSW Waratahs’ historic game as part of a joint bid with Venues NSW and Lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes described the result as a “major coup for the city”.

“We’re proud to be the inaugural beneficiaries of the NSW Waratahs’ first foray outside of Sydney, particularly for a competition which has now achieved true international status with the addition of Japanese and Argentinean teams,” Nelmes said.

Newcastle has just hosted the Australian vs England netball test match, they will also host the Matildas game vs Chile early next month and final preparations are also under way for November’s Supercars race.

Next month Newcastle will learn if they will be the 2021 host city for the Women’s Rugby World Cup and the Lord mayor said: ”Our ability to continually attract some of the country’s best live sporting and entertainment events shows just how committed we are to making our city the best it can possibly be.”