Coast set to host rugby Test match
Luke Turgeon

19Sep06

THE Wallabies could play a history-making Test match on the Gold Coast as early as 2008.

The Australian Rugby Union yesterday confirmed their commitment to bring top level rugby to the Coast, revealing plans to have the Wallabies kicking off at the new 25,000-seat Robina stadium soon after it is completed.

ARU general manager for commercial operations Brian Thorburn said Robina would likely host a Test match between Australian and a side such as Argentina or Italy.

The Gold Coast has never hosted a rugby union Test match.

"Our firm intention would be to play a Test match against an appropriate quality opponent at the stadium in either 2008 or 2009," said Thorburn. "It would be a proper Test match, somebody like an Argentina or an Italy are possible prospects for example.

"We just have to get an intimate understanding of the stadium that is being built and get our heads around the timing of when it will be ready and how the hiring arrangements work.

"But we have every intention of playing a Test match there."

At the weekend the ARU announced Queensland would be home to 10 Wallaby Test matches over the next eight years, including three Bledisloe Cup Tests.

Suncorp Stadium will host one of the two Bledisloe Cup Tests in 2008, with additional Bledisloe Cup Tests in 2011 and 2014, pending the extension of the SANZAR joint venture beyond 2010.

The remaining Tests, aside from the proposed Gold Coast encounter, are also likely to be played in Brisbane despite claims that Wallaby matches would also be played in Townsville.

"For a Test match against Ireland, England, South Africa or somebody, of course we wouldn't do that (play on the Coast) when there is the potential for much greater crowds," said Thorburn of Suncorp Stadium's ability to hold more than 50,000 spectators. "We would be shooting ourselves in the foot.

"But the Test matches against (countries like) Italy and Argentina are very appropriate for grounds of that (Robina) capacity."

He said that part of the discussions between the Queensland Government and the ARU had focused on ensuring Tests were not staged solely in Brisbane.

Thorburn said the ARU had 'given that very firm commitment to look at the Gold Coast for a Test match'.

"We are also going to look at Townsville for Australia A games and so on."

Work on the $160 million Robina stadium started in May and development is on track for completion in time for the 2008 NRL season.

The ARU's decision to expand into a booming Gold Coast sporting market comes on the back of the successful Gold Coast Titans rugby league bid.

The AFL also has made a $100 million commitment to develop their code in Queensland and NSW, with the Coast as a major focus point.

In another major sporting boost, the National Basketball League is about to make a decision on a Gold Coast franchise.

Late last month the Queensland Rugby Union opted against basing one of the two new National Rugby Competition sides on the Gold Coast, preferring to run both out of Ballymore.
Source:gc bulletin