Aussies in PE for first time since 1963

The Springboks’ Rugby Championship home fixtures for 2018 were confirmed yesterday with matches scheduled for Pretoria, Durban and Port Elizabeth in the 22nd edition of the Southern Hemisphere championship.

The Wallabies will take the field in Port Elizabeth for the first time in more than half a century when they come up against the Springboks in the Eastern Cape on September 29, while the All Blacks return to Pretoria for the first time in more than a decade when then they play at Loftus Versfeld on October 6.

Meanwhile, the Pumas will have happy memories for their return trip to King’s Park in Durban. On their last visit in 2015 they recorded their first victory over South Africa when they won 37-25.

The Wallabies made the last of their four appearances in Port Elizabeth in 1963 (losing 22-6) while New Zealand’s last match at Loftus was in 2006 when they cantered to a 45-26 win.

Tickets for the matches at Loftus and King’s Park will be available through the Blue Bulls and Sharks respectively. Details of ticket sales for the match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will be announced early next year.

The three away Rugby Championship Bok Tests are on August 25 against the Pumas at a venue yet to be confirmed, against the Wallabies in Brisbane on September 15 and against the All Blacks in Wellington a week later. – Own Correspondent