Wales: Will face Australia in three-match series next year

The three games will be preceded by a match between Australia and Scotland in Newcastle on June 5.

Wales will take on Robbie Deans' side in Brisbane four days later followed by further matches in Melbourne on June 16 and Sydney on June 23. They last met in the World Cup third-place play-off last month, Australia winning 21-18.

It will be the first time since 2001 - when the British and Irish Lions toured Australia - that the Wallabies have played a European heavyweight in a three-Test series across the June window.

"A return to a three-Test series as we will play against Wales is an opportunity to build anticipation, excitement and momentum during the course of the tour," ARU chief executive John O'Neill said.

"It is a long time since we have had that opportunity, to experience a heavyweight northern hemisphere opponent in our backyard for three Tests.

"I'm delighted too that Wales will be that opponent in 2012. I think all Australians understand what the Welsh are capable of in terms of exciting and attacking rugby.

"They were unfortunate to lose to France in the Rugby World Cup semi-final, after playing with 14 men for most of the game, and they were certainly difficult opponents for the Wallabies in the bronze final.

"The challenge for our team next year will be huge."

While O'Neill welcomed the return of a three-match series on home soil, he also said playing Scotland in Newcastle was enormously significant.

"Newcastle and the Hunter region has a wonderful history as a nursery for Wallabies stars, the most recent of them being Luke Burgess," he said.

"So to take a Test to the area is a fitting reward for the contribution Newcastle and the Hunter have made over a long period of time. Our Test history stretches back to 1899 and there have been any number of Newcastle stars to grace Australian teams during that period."

"Scotland came close to beating both Argentina and England at the Rugby World Cup and did defeat the Wallabies in the last meeting between our two countries in 2009, so we know they will provide formidable opposition."