Ireland to play ABs in Chicago Autumn 2016

Looks like Ireland are going all out to try and get the AB thing off our backs. Should be a big crowd in Chicago to watch this. I hope Ireland are getting as much as the ABs for playing there!


The Irish rugby team is to break new ground by playing New Zealand in Chicago next November, with a return fixture against the back-to-back World Cup champions to be held in the Aviva Stadium later in that same autumnal window.

The Irish Times has learned that Ireland will meet the All Blacks in Soldier Field, Chicago, on Saturday, November 5th, before hosting a Tier 2 country a week later at the Aviva Stadium. They will then play New Zealand again on November 19th as a prelude to rounding off a busy November window and year with a game against the World Cup finalists Australia on the 26th.

Soldier Field, which is home to the Chicago Bears American football teams, hosted its first international rugby union test match when the All Blacks beat the United States 74-6 in November 2014. The match was a 61,500 sell-out, and although only 23,112 attended Australia’s 47-10 win over the USA Eagles in a World Cup warm-up match last September, it will be a surprise if the combined popularity of both Ireland and the All Blacks did not ensure a sell-out for their meeting next November.

The World Cup highlighted the willingness of Irish supporters to travel long and far to support their country and the IRFU will thus be tapping into the Irish diaspora for a first ever meeting with the All Blacks in America.

These high profile tests are also in keeping with Joe Schmidt’s desire to face the world’s leading teams more regularly, and in addition to the Six Nations, adds to a three-test tour of South Africa next June in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. Six clashes with teams from the Rugby Championship in one calendar year is unprecedented and emulates the six games Argentina, Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final conquerors, will have against the same opponents in 2016.

Ireland have never beaten New Zealand in 28 attempts, dating back to 1905, and never came closer than in the countries’ most recent test at the Aviva Stadium in November 2013, when the All Blacks won 24-22 thanks to a try in over time by Ryan Crotty and a twice taken conversion by Aaron Cruden. They are now set to have two cracks off the World champions next year.
Ireland’s November 2016 schedule

Saturday 5th: Ireland v New Zealand, Soldier Field, Chicago.
Saturday 12th: Ireland v Tier 2 team, Aviva Stadium.
Saturday 19th: Ireland v New Zealand, Aviva Stadium.
Saturday 26th: Ireland v Australia, Aviva Stadium.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/ireland-to-play-all-blacks-in-chicago-next-year-1.2428573

As rugby is currently the biggest growing sport in the USA, the popularity of the AB's and the amount of American citizens clinging to Irish roots, this has all the makings of being a sell out.

The NZ Maori team are also playing the USA over tgere. Not sure if it's going to be a double header type thing to guarentee the sell out.

This is a great idea. Well played to those who have arranged this.

They'll beat the shmidt out of us twice but what the heck... yeah, I'll go for that.  That's the kind of AI list that makes sense.
I think after the present WC, the money makers certainly know that ABs attract the attention of casuals around the world ...and that the Irish certainly attract crowds.

And whilst we're at it, I'd also go for setting up an (IRFU backed) New York Irish or Chicago Irish team to compete in the new American League in time.  A home for some of the current sideliners not getting enough gametime.... a fifth Province .

Everyone......... to the right of us on the map... is trying to be creative/manipulative to survive in the increasing dog eat dog Union world.  Let's join the party and move outside the box concept-wise.

"IRFU in Copying Saracens" shocker!!!

You really need to get your own ideas, guys

Walesonline: "Private White-Hatted Cowboys club Saracens outflanked by dastardly Black-hatted Union cowboys IRFU!!!"



Besides, ain't that a London Irish 'home' game Cyril? St Paddy's Day build-up and all that.

SecretFly wrote: Walesonline: "Private White-Hatted Cowboys club Saracens outflanked by dastardly Black-hatted Union cowboys IRFU!!!"



Besides, ain't that a London Irish 'home' game Cyril?  St Paddy's Day build-up and all that.

We all know it wouldn't have got off the ground without the forward-thinking Sarries business model Good to see the IRFU wants a piece of that thinking. Don't forget to send some royalties to Nigel Wray though.

Cyril wrote:

SecretFly wrote: Walesonline: "Private White-Hatted Cowboys club Saracens outflanked by dastardly Black-hatted Union cowboys IRFU!!!"



Besides, ain't that a London Irish 'home' game Cyril?  St Paddy's Day build-up and all that.

We all know it wouldn't have got off the ground without the forward-thinking Sarries business model Good to see the IRFU wants a piece of that thinking. Don't forget to send some royalties to Nigel Wray though.

Eh, I think Munster were the trailblazers on this one.

US Eagles v Munster in Toyota Park, Chicago (2007) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM4SNeYawL0
US Eagles v Munster Boston 2009 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-Y8NKS_Vwk

Clermont were over there in 2008!

This double header has now been confirmed.

USA v Maoris then Ireland v ABs.



http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/76969612/All-Blacks-confirm-November-2016-Ireland-test-at-Soldier-Field-in-Chicago