Australia return on cards as RWC warm-ups are confirmed

AFTER a hugely successful series at the end of last season between the sides, Ireland could return to Australia as early as 2020.

The IRFU confirmed Joe Schmidt’s side will play Italy, England and Wales twice before next year’s World Cup and the long season could conclude Down Under.

Ireland beat Michael Cheika’s Wallabies 2-1 in June, but their next visit may not be a three-Test series and could see Ireland face Australia twice and visit one of the Pacific Islands for a third challenge.

Details of Ireland’s summer tour could be announced next month, but yesterday saw the World Cup warm-ups confirmed.

Schmidt’s side kick off against Italy in Dublin on August 10, 2019; the third time they’ll have faced Conor O’Shea’s men in the year.

Two weeks later, they travel to Twickenham to take on England before facing Wales in Cardiff on August 31 and Schmidt will name his 31-man squad two days later, before Warren Gatland’s team visit Dublin on September 7.

Meanwhile, Channel 4 will replace Sky as the UK broadcasters for Ireland’s November internationals for the next four seasons.

They will show the home games against the US, New Zealand and Argentina but the rights-holders to the clash with Italy in Chicago have yet to be announced. Eir Sport may be the front-runners to show that game, having screened the famous win over the All Blacks in 2016.

RTÉ will continue to televise the November internationals in Ireland until 2021 under their existing deal.

The Irish union also revealed that they will welcome Australia and South Africa for their November games in 2020, with New Zealand and Argentina visiting Dublin in 2021.