The 2013 British & Irish Lions will play one of their three Tests against the Wallabies at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Australian Rugby Union CEO John O’Neill announced a 10-year Test agreement with the Queensland council that will ensure the Lions play at least one game in Brisbane on their 125th anniversary tour in two years time.
The news comes hot-on-the-heels of the Queensland Reds winning the Super 15 final against the Crusaders at a Suncorp Stadium that was filled to its 52,500 capacity. Another full house is predicted for the Test against the Lions.
It will be the first time the Lions will have played at the Suncorp Stadium, although the 1966 tourists played at the venue in it old incarnation as Lang Park. They notched their record victory over the Wallabies in Brisbane when they won 31-0 and also beat Queensland 26-3 at the same venue.
"When you look at the Super Rugby final being sold out, and the prospect that the Bledisloe Cup Test in Brisbane on 27 August will follow suit when tickets go on sale, the Queensland sporting public has stepped up to the plate to support our game,” said O’Neill.
"While there were other factors that needed to be considered before entering this arrangement with Events Queensland, ARG Ogden and Stadiums Queensland, it was also clear that we need to reward and encourage our Queensland fan base to continue supporting the Wallabies.
"Queensland is an undeniable heartland of Rugby and to that extent we also think the time is right to take Test Rugby to the Gold Coast. We have relocated the Australian leg of the IRB Sevens World Series to the Gold Coast and believe Test Rugby will also thrive in that market.”
