Ireland’s Mens Rugby team is poised to return to Chicago’s Soldier Field in 2025 for a rematch of their underdog victory over New Zealand in 2016, according to Kiwi publication Stuff.
The Ireland - New Zealand rugby fixture, Stuff says, could happen in October or November next year to start the end-of-season tour.
This week's report about a potential Ireland - New Zealand rematch in Chicago comes more than a year after Stuff reported: “All Blacks tests against Ireland on the east coast of the United States – with Boston or New York the obvious choice of location – are understood to be the subject of serious discussion from 2025 onwards…”
Amid the reports, higher-ups in the Ireland National Rugby Union (IRFU) have remained tight-lipped this week about returning to Chicago.
A spokesperson for the IRFU confirmed with The Irish Times that Ireland’s Test schedule for next year has not been agreed and that they weren’t willing to comment on speculation.
On November 5, 2016, Ireland claimed a historic 40-29 victory over the All Blacks at Chicago's Soldier Field as part of the 2016 Autumn International.
The perfect #throwbackthursday as we take a behind the scenes look at Ireland's historic win against New Zealand in Chicago. #tbt to an incredible week, an incredible day for Irish Rugby.#ShoulderToShoulder pic.twitter.com/eRWS8xYjo0
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 5, 2020
More than 62,000 spectators, a record audience for a rugby match in the US, were in attendance to witness Ireland beat the All Blacks for the first time in 28 matches and 111 years.
The legions of spectators descended from all over the world in to witness the match in Chicago, which was still riding a high after hometown heroes Chicago Cubs became the MLB World Series Champions for the first time in 108 years just days earlier.
Two weeks later, however, Ireland lost 21-9 to the All Blacks at Dublin's Aviva Stadium.
Ireland and New Zealand's rugby squads most recently met in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final at the Stade de France, which the All Blacks won 28-24.
Overall, Ireland and New Zealand have played 37 test matches, with New Zealand winning the lion's share of 31, Ireland winning five, and one match drawn.
As of July 22, Ireland's Men's Rugby team is ranked second in the world, just behind South Africa. New Zealand is ranked third.
Meanwhile, Ireland's Men's Rugby Sevens team has begun their events at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Unlike regular 15-a-side rugby, Sevens rugby sees only seven players per team take the field for two seven-minute halves. The event only returned to the Olympics as part of Rio 2016; rugby had not been featured in the Olympics since the 1924 Summer Olympics in any form.
Ireland's Men's Rugby Sevens team beat South Africa 10 - 5 in Pool A at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Wednesday.
The following day, Team Ireland lost to New Zealand 14 - 12, and later in the day, lost to Fiji 19 - 15 in the Men's Quarter Final.
The Irish Men's Rugby Sevens is due to face off against the US on Saturday.
🏉 | RUGBY
Team Ireland suffer a heartbreaking defeat in their quarter-final to Fiji. The final score was 🇮🇪 15 - 19 🇫🇯 #TeamIreland | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/RMZQdCjlCr
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) July 25, 2024
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