Tuesday 27 October 2015 13:17, UK
London Irish have arranged to play their Premiership home game against Saracens this season in New York.
The club and Premiership Rugby have announced a ground-breaking move that will see Irish tackle reigning champions Saracens at the 25,000-capacity Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.
The March 12 fixture at the home of Major League Soccer team New York Red Bulls, will be the first Premiership fixture to be played overseas.
Rugby union is currently the fastest-growing team sport in the United States, and Irish are confident the venture will be a success, with the fixture taking place just five days before St Patrick's Day and New York having a considerable Irish population.
"This is an enormous opportunity for London Irish and a chance for our club to gain exposure in one of the biggest sporting cities in the world," Irish chief executive Bob Casey said.
"The New York region has a significant Irish community and is renowned for its annual St Patrick's Day Parade, so it's the perfect time for our club to venture into this market.
"Rugby is set for an exciting time with Rugby World Cup 2015 reaching its final stages, the inclusion of sevens in the 2016 Olympic Games, and now the first-ever Aviva Premiership fixture in the USA.
"We are well-placed to capitalise on these exceptional opportunities to create a lasting legacy for both rugby and London Irish.
"We intend to continue to be at the forefront of the development of the game in the USA."
The game falls during a busy period in the international and domestic calendar as England play Wales at Twickenham in the Six Nations Championship on March 12 - Ireland also face Italy that day - while Irish take on Bath the previous weekend, when Saracens entertain Northampton.
Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty added: "This is a significant day in the history of Premiership Rugby, and one that has taken a number of years and a lot of hard work to bring to fruition.
"Premiership Rugby is the most competitive league in world rugby with a fast-growing following outside England, and we are delighted to stage a competitive match in the USA.
"There are ambitious plans to grow the game in the States, and this is the latest stage in that strategy.
"I would like to thank both London Irish for their support and vision in making this bold step, as well as Saracens and our partners - The Legacy Agency Inc and USA Rugby.
"We firmly believe this will be a great success and will showcase live Aviva Premiership Rugby to a new audience."
