Wales set autumn Australia date

Wales will face all three major southern hemisphere teams

Wales will play Australia in the final game of this year's autumn Test series.

The game will take place at the Millennium Stadium on 29 November with the kick-off time to be confirmed.

The timing of the game follows talks with the four Welsh regions as the date falls outside the normal international window for Test matches.

Wales are also set to face world champions South Africa on 8 November, Canada on 14 November and New Zealand on 22 November in the series.

The Australia game will mark 100 years of Test rugby between the two nations and Wales will be hoping to lift the James Bevan Trophy for the first time.

The Wallabies won the trophy, launched in honour of the first Welsh captain, last summer after prevailing in a two Test series.

606: DEBATE How will Wales fare against the southern hemisphere sides?

The confirmation of the clash also means Wales will now play all three of the major southern hemisphere nations at home in the high-profile series.

Wales coach Warren Gatland has described the whole November series as "an important milestone" on the road towards the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

"I am delighted that in one great month of rugby we now have the prospect of testing ourselves against all the best of the southern hemisphere teams," he said.

"I have always said we must test ourselves against the best, and I am delighted we have been able to secure this series.

"The squad has made significant progress this year and the autumn games will now provide a perfect opportunity to test how far forward we are in our development."

AUTUMN TEST SERIES 2008 Wales v South Africa, 8 Nov, 1430 GMT Wales v Canada, 14 Nov, 1930 GMT Wales v New Zealand, 22 Nov, 1515 GMT Wales v Australia, 29 Nov, TBC

WRU chief executive Roger Lewis was keen to thank the regions for allowing their players to take part in a match which falls outside the International Rugby Board autumn window.

"I am particularly grateful to all four of our regions in Wales for agreeing to release their international players for the final game in the series against Australia," he said.

"The strong relationship we are building with our four regions bodes well for the future of the game in Wales."

The next major challenge for the current Grand Slam holders is a two-test tour of South Africa in June, when Wales face the Springboks in Bloemfontein and Pretoria.

"We will have played the current world champions three times this year by the end of November, and that is just the sort of benchmark rugby we require in order to keep getting better," added Gatland.