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Eddie Jones hopes Newcastle fans will back Japan when they host Ireland in a relocated July Test.
Eddie Jones is hoping Newcastle can become a temporary home for Japan when they face Ireland in a Nations Championship Test in July.
The match will be played at McDonald Jones Stadium on 11 July as part of the inaugural 12-team competition, which brings together leading nations from both hemispheres in a six-round format before a finals series at Twickenham in November.
Japan have relocated the fixture due to operational and travel considerations, while also easing player workloads.
The decision mirrors arrangements for Fiji, who will stage all matches in the UK because their home venues do not meet tournament requirements.
The Newcastle Test will be Australia's first neutral international since the COVID-19 pandemic and serves as an early look at preparations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Japan are scheduled to return to the same venue for a pool match against Samoa during that tournament.
Jones indicated he is considering basing Japan in Newcastle for the World Cup and wants local fans to embrace the side.
He said the team would benefit from familiarity with the ground and conditions, particularly given a relatively young squad is expected for 2027.
The venue has already shown strong support for international rugby, with more than 28,000 fans attending a match where the Wallabies edged Fiji 21-18 to open the 2025 season.
The fixture will also mark Jones's first Test in Australia since his departure as Wallabies coach following the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Historically, Ireland have dominated the matchup, winning 10 of 11 Tests against Japan since 1991. Japan's only victory came at home during the 2019 Rugby World Cup, while Ireland claimed the most recent meeting 41-10 in Dublin last November.