Ireland to take on New Zealand at Chicago's Soldier Field
Friday 13 November 2015 14:53, UK
Ireland are set to travel to the USA next November to take on world champions New Zealand at Chicago’s Soldier Field, according to the Irish Times.
The match, which will take place on November 5, will be the first of four autumn internationals for Ireland with the remaining three taking place at home in the Aviva Stadium over the following weeks.
The third of those internationals will be a return fixture against the All Blacks on November 19, while the final match will be against Australia on November 26. The second fixture will be against a Tier-2 opponent that is yet to be determined.
The game at the home of the NFL's Chicago Bears will be New Zealand's second at the venue after their 74-6 demolition of the United States last year in front of a 61,500 sell-out crowd.
Only 23,000 turned up at Soldier Field in September to see Australia beat the US 47-10 in a World Cup warm-up.
But the combined popularity of New Zealand and Ireland should ensure another sell-out in what is expected to be a doubleheader, with the US to face opposition yet to be determined.
Ireland's two games against the All Blacks and one against Australia, coupled with their three-Test tour of South Africa next June in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth means Joe Schmidt's men will play an unprecedented six games against Rugby Championship sides within an eight-month period.
