Ireland v New Zealand: kick-off time, TV details and team news 

Ireland take on New Zealand in "The Rematch" this Saturday November 1 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW: As Ireland prepare to face old foes New Zealand here is all you need to know about the Chicago rematch. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Ireland and New Zealand will pick up their rivalry in "The Rematch" at Soldier Field in Chicago this weekend. In 2016, Ireland claimed a famous 40-29 victory over the All Blacks which became the first time in 111 years that Ireland defeated New Zealand. 

Ireland have won five of the last ten clashes with the All Blacks losing out to them in both the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals. 

This promises to be another epic battle between old foes with Andy Farrell hoping his side continue their winning run over the All Blacks in Chicago whilst Scott Robertson will be hoping his side will avenge their 2016 loss in the iconic venue.

Here's all you need to know ahead of the game.

Where's the game being played?

The clash will take place at the home of Chicago Bears in Soldier Field in Chicago.

What time is kick-off?

The match kicks off at 8.10pm Irish time (3.10pm local time) on Saturday November 1.

Where can I watch?

Take your pick. The game will be shown live on Virgin Media One and TNT Sports 2.

Who is the referee?

France's Pierre Brousset will be the man in the middle for the clash. England's Karl Dickson and France's Luc Ramos will run the line as England's Ian Tempest will be in the TMO hotseat.

Team News

Andy Farrell has reinstated Jack Crowley into the Ireland No.10 jersey for Saturday night’s Chicago rematch with the All Blacks but opted to keep returning captain Caelan Doris in reserve.

Farrell unveiled his starting XV for the Soldier Field meeting with New Zealand on Thursday morning local time, naming hooker Dan Sheehan as captain in the place of Doris. He also found room for at least a couple of November surprises.

Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey was undoubtedly the most eye-catching, named to make his first Ireland start in 20 months as he partners Garry Ringrose in the centre while, outside them, Leinster’s Tommy O’Brien will win just his third Ireland cap on the wing. It will be a first staredown of the haka for both men.

Among the replacements, meanwhile, is rookie Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy, one of just two uncapped players in the 36-man touring party.

The Ireland head coach has turned to Crowley after a superb start to the season in the URC with Munster, highlighted by a virtuoso interpro performance against Leinster at Croke Park earlier this month. That that display came in direct opposition to Sam Prendergast, who had papered to have taken a hold of the playmaker’s role for the national team over the past 12 months, perhaps swung things decisively Crowley’s way and he partners Jamison Gibson-park in the half-backs. Prendergast is included among the replacements with a 5-3 forward-back split.

Sheehan, who captained Ireland for the first time against Wales earlier this year, will have familiar company at the coalface, Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong either side of him. Fresh from his own barnstorming Croke Park display, Munster skipper Tadhg Beirne will partner James Ryan in the second row with Ryan Baird, Josh van den Flier and Jack Conan rounding out the pack.

Farrell, who will address the media in Chicago later this morning, has opted for McCloskey over the claims of more experienced options in Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw. Both crossed the Atlantic with injury concerns but had been reported fully fit earlier this week. Aki is among the replacements.

McCloskey, who recently turned 33, has been a key cog in Ulster’s flying start in the URC, featuring in wins against the Dragons, Bulls and a highly impressive road victory over the Sharks. His size and defensive solidity will come in handy against a All Blacks attack which belatedly found its feet in closing Rugby Championship victories over the Wallabies.

After a Six Nations campaign where Iain Henderson was the sole Ulster player to feature, McCloskey’s return to a starting berth is recognition for how things have turned for Richie Murphy’s side this term, Henderson also named among the replacements.

The deliberations on whether to throw Doris right back into the deep end from the get-go at Soldier Field had occupied plenty of headspace for the Irish coaching staff here over the past week.

While there are concerns across the board about how underprepared the entire panel is in terms of match-intensity minutes, Leinster No.8 Doris hasn’t played at all in the past five months. Surgery for a shoulder injury in the wake of the province’s abrupt Champions Cup exit at the hands of Northampton ruled him out of the Lions tour and has resulted in a careful build-up back to full fitness. He's sure to be called upon with a testing clash awaiting.

"It is a real privilege to be back here in Chicago ahead of a huge game against New Zealand,” Farrell said. “The historic nature of this game is something we are embracing and there's great excitement in the squad, not least for Paddy McCarthy who is set to make his international debut this weekend. Paddy has made a great start to the season and his selection is testament to his impressive form. We wish him well and will all do our utmost to make it a special weekend for him and his family.” 

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson, who has travelled north having shed only some of the pressure that built up during a Rugby Championship of extreme highs and lows, will name his first XV of the autumn later this afternoon in downtown Chicago. All week here New Zealand players have insisted that a Grand Slam is the target for a hectic November schedule which sees the world’s No.2 side play Ireland then Scotland, England and Wales over the next four weeks. Joe Callaghan

Meanwhile, New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson has made four changes to the side that defeated the Wallabies in Perth in the final round of the Rugby Championship.

Ethan de Groot returns from concussion to join Fletcher Newell and Codie Taylor in the front row which see Tamaiti Williams move to the bench.

Beauden Barrett returns from a shoulder injury to start at No.10 with Caleb Clarke returning to the left wing following an ankle injury. Leicester Fainga'anuku and Damian McKenzie drop to the bench.

Josh Lord comes onto the bench for teh injured Patrick Tuipulotu.

Roberston has been preparing for another tough clash against Ireland. “This is an awesome match to kick off our Northern Tour with.

"Ireland are a strong side and will have a loud contingent of supporters here in Chicago, so we are prepared for a passionate clash on the Soldier Field stage. We have had a great week together leading up to the Test and now we are looking forward to the contest on Saturday afternoon.” 

IRELAND: J Osborne (Leinster), T O’Brien (Leinster), G Ringrose (Leinster), S McCloskey (Ulster), J Lowe (Leinster), J Crowley (Munster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster); A Porter (Leinster), D Sheehan (Leinster, capt), T Furlong (Leinster), J Ryan (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), R Baird (Leinster), J van der Flier (Leinster), J Conan (Leinster).

Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster), P McCarthy (Leinster)*, F Bealham (Connacht), I Henderson (Ulster), C Doris (Leinster), C Casey (Munster), S Prendergast (Leinster), B Aki (Connacht).

NEW ZEALAND: W Jordan, L Carter, Q Tupaea, J Barrett, C Clarke, B Barrett, C Roigard; E de Groot, C Taylor, F Newell, S Barrett, F Holland, S Parker, A Savea, P Lakai.

Replacements: S Taukei’aho, T Williams, P Tosi, J Lord, W Sititi, C Ratima, L Fainga’anuku, D McKenzie.

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Munster's Tom Farrell and Leinster's Jimmy O'Brien were added to the Ireland squad for the trip to Chicago. 

Catching up with Tom after his first couple of days in camp! 🤝 pic.twitter.com/dAhWu5gJNU

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) October 24, 2025

Connacht's Mack Hansen was ruled out of the game following a foot injury he picked up scoring a late try for Connacht in their URC clash against the Bulls at Dexcom Stadium.

Munster duo Edwin Edogdo (concussion) and Brian Gleeson (elbow) were also ruled out from the trip.

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Joe Callaghan is on the ground in Chicago for us this week and you can follow his build up to the game on irishexaminer.com.

‘Welcome to Dawg Town’… The hoardings around Ireland’s Chicago HQ change depending on the tenant. However the slogan of one teams that calls SeatGeek Stadium, on the industrial western fringes of the city, home is unmissable. Just in case Andy Farrell and co. hadn’t seen the tagline, the Chicago Hounds plastered it across their social media channels this weekend too.

When they joined Major League Rugby in 2023, the Hounds were young pups, the newest of 12 clubs in America’s venture into professional union, then in its sixth season. Fast forward two short years though and Chicago are now the fifth-oldest team among just seven still standing. Both a Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup approach on the horizon in these parts but for the Hounds, their MLR rivals and powerbrokers across American rugby, the dogs days are biting hard. Read Joe Callaghan's full article here.