2024 represents a fresh year for Australian Rugby with a plethora of opportunities to impress.
Both 15-a-side national sides will have a new coach at the helm whilst the Sevens sides have Olympic gold on their mind.
Don’t miss HSBC SVNS Perth in 2024: 26-28 January at HBF Park. Get your tickets now!
With this in mind, Rugby.com.au examines ten major events to mark down on the calendar for 2024.
1. Paris Olympics
The Sevens are set to take centre stage at the Olympics as the Australians head to Paris with a point to prove.
Both sides are genuine gold medal chances after starting the SVNS Series on fire.
The Women are yet to be beaten in the 2023-24 Series, harnessing the hurt from their Tokyo Olympic campaign after being dumped out in the quarter-finals.
Hosts France and New Zealand are the two main challenges, with the Black Ferns set to welcome back Player of the Year Tyla Nathan-Wong in 2024.
As for the men, whilst they head into the New Year’s in sixth on the SVNS World Series standings, they proved they can beat any team on their day in Cape Town. The competition is red-hot, with close to eight teams capable of winning gold on their day.
Legendary Wallaby Michael Hooper has officially joined the program, one of several superstars to make the switch along with France hero Antoine Dupont.
2. Wales
The Wallabies won’t have to wait long for World Cup revenge as they look set to welcome Wales to Australia.
The Welsh ended the Wallabies World Cup dreams with a thumping defeat in Lyon, leaving players despondent on the Parc OL turf.
Ultimately, it’s a match that will live in Wallabies infamy, adding another chapter to a growing rivalry set up by past World Cup heroics and 2022's Miracle at Millenum.
July's series presents a fresh opportunity for players to bury their demons and move on.
3. New Wallabies coach
Before the Wales series, the situation around the Wallabies head coach must first be resolved.
The Eddie Jones saga dominated headlines for 2023, with the former boss coming, going and returning to Japan Rugby after one of the wildest years in modern Rugby/sport.
It leaves the Wallabies to rebuild and survey the landscape for the next head coach, with several candidates ready to step up.
Former Brumbies boss Dan McKellar's name has been thrown around alongside current Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham, whilst Joe Schmidt continues to be linked thanks to his connection with new Head of High-Performance Peter Horne.
Whoever steps up will have a hungry group ready to rectify past defeats ahead of a crucial four-year period for the sport
4. To be the best...
The Wallabies will get the chance to test themselves against the World Champion Springboks as part of what will be a red-hot Rugby Championship.
The Springboks cemented their status as one of the finest teams of their generation after back-to-back World Cup titles.
They will be riding the high of their French success and nothing would signal a new era for the Wallabies more than with the scalp of the world champions.
Couple this with the return of the enigmatic Rassie Erasmus and it shapes as must-watch fixtures.
5. Wallaroos new era
New Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp will be tasked with taking the women’s national side to the next level after a breakthrough 2023 season.
Yapp’s appointment was welcomed worldwide as the England great continues a meteoric rise through the coaching ranks as one of the best female coaches in the world.
The wins over USA, France and Wales showcased the growth of Women’s Rugby in Australia after their international return in 2022.
Yapp will be tasked with continuing the transition to a full-time program and hunting for that elusive win over the Kiwis.
6. Chasing Fiji
The Australian clubs will be hunting to stop the Fijian domination of Super Rugby W.
The Drua have taken over the competition since their introduction, claiming back-to-back titles in Townsville.
This presents a major target on their back as the rest of the competition looks to knock them off and claim the crown.
The competition will only benefit from the expanded pre-season, which will open the door for international teams to challenge the best in Australia.
7. SVNS heads west
The SVNS Series will venture into new territory as the Australian leg heads to Perth.
Western Australia has shown in the past its willingness to get behind big-scale Rugby events and this should be no different over the Australia Day weekend.
The marquee attraction will be the potential debut of Wallabies legend Hooper, his first step towards Paris.
Along with this, the Australians will be out for revenge after their disappointing Sydney campaigns, with the Women eager to rectify their shock quarter-final exit, the only time they haven’t made a semi-final since 2019.
8. Bledisloe battle
The Wallabies will once again look to end their Bledisloe drought against an All Blacks side issuing in a new era.
Despite a rough 2023, there's an argument to be made this could be the Wallabies’ best chance of taking up the Cup as the Kiwis enter a transformation period under new coach Scott Robertson.
The World Cup finalists have also farewelled a host of legends such as Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick.
If the Wallabies can fire under a new head coach, the Bledisloe is there for the taking.
9.. TRC U20s
The opportunities for the next generation of stars will only grow with the formation of the U20s Rugby Championship.
The Junior Wallabies’ return in 2023 was a resounding success, defeating their Kiwi counterparts twice whilst finishing fifth in the World Championships.
April’s three-week tournament will provide the perfect formation for the World Championships, with the likes of Jack Barrett, Harry McLaughlin-Philips and Lachlan Hooper set to shine.
10. SRP derby to kick off season
Super Rugby Pacific is set to kick off with a bang as old rivals NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds add another chapter to their fierce history.
The Reds are under new management with Les Kiss taking the reigns whilst Waratahs coach Darren Coleman will be under pressure to perform in 2024.
The season will begin with a grand final rematch between the Crusaders and Chiefs on Friday 23 February at FMG Stadium.
Following this, Taniela Tupou will make his Rebels debut against the ACT Brumbies, who are desperate to get past the semi-finals in 2024.
