Australia rugby union to host France in June

Australia Rugby Union announced on Monday that France would travel to the southern hemisphere for a three-match Test series.

Australia fly-half James O'Connor in a Test match against the British and Irish Lions this summer. William West / AFP

The Australian Rugby Union announced Tuesday that France will tour the country in June to play a three-match Test series.

It will be Les Bleus’ first visit to the country in five years and the first time they face each other since Australia were humbled 33-6 in Paris in November 2012.

“Australian Rugby Union today announced the Qantas Wallabies will take on France in a three Test series in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney next year as part of The Castrol EDGE France Tour,” said an Australian Rugby statement.

“It will be the first tour to Australia by a French international Test side since 2009 when they lost 22 to 6 to the Wallabies in Sydney.”

The first match will be at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on June 7 with further clashes at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne a week later and in Sydney at the Allianz Stadium on June 21.

While Australia will be looking for revenge for last year’s heavy defeat in Paris, the ARU have not forgotten past success.

“It will be the first tour to Australia by a French international Test side since 2009 when they lost 22 to 6 to the Wallabies in Sydney,” it said.

“The last time Australia faced France they suffered a heavy 33 to 6 defeat during the Wallabies opening 2012 Spring Tour match in Paris against a French side described as ‘powerful and flamboyant’.

“There’s no doubt in 2014 the Men in Gold will be looking for vengeance.

“It was a different story in 2010 when Australia had a strong 59-16 win over France (in Paris).

“The 43 point margin was a record for Australia in both their home and away matches against the French,” gloated the ARU.

The two sides have met each other 42 times with Australia winning 23 and France coming out on top 17 times, with two draws.

The most famous encounter between the teams was the 1999 World Cup final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff when the Wallabies triumphed 35-12 for their second world crown, and France’s second defeat in a final.