Wallabies to meet Wales in Cardiff

Organisers of the 2007 Rugby World Cup have announced that the Pool B encounter between Wales and Australia will be played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

2007: Wales receive World Cup boost

The French Rugby Federation - who will host the RWC - have also given games to Scotland and Ireland, but have announced that the Millennium Stadium will also be the only venue outside of France to stage a quarter-final.

In total, Wales will host three pool games and one quarter-final.

"This is fantastic news for Wales," said Welsh Rugby Union chairman David Pickering.

"It makes the Millennium Stadium a major venue for Rugby World Cup 2007.

"We have an excellent understanding with the French and together we want to make 2007 even more successful than the 2003 tournament.

"Our planning has started early and we will soon be appointing an executive to manage the Welsh end of the competition."

Wales' other two Pool games, plus any knock-out fixtures (including quarter-finals) that they might reach, will be played in France.

The unions of Wales and France have also agreed to stage a pre-World Cup warm-up match between their two countries at the Millennium Stadium in the summer of 2007.

"It is always great for Wales to be able to host international fixtures against the top sides in the world and a World Cup warm-up match against France would certainly help Wales' playing preparations," said Pickering.

* In response to this story, the International Rugby Board (IRB) has issued a statement stating that "no discussions regarding the match schedule for RWC 2007 or any proposed allocation of matches to venues" have taken place. According to the IRB, "the schedule of matches and venues is due to be confirmed by the end of this year".