Ireland to face All Blacks in Chicago next year

The IRFU has hit paydirt with the news that the national team is set to face New Zealand in Chicago’s Soldier Field next November.

The All Blacks and the Wallabies have played at the home of the Chicago Bears NFL side in recent years, both against the host nation, and it has been reported that the world champions and the Wallabies received $1m each for their appearances from USA Rugby.

The game between the world champions and the USA drew a capacity 61,500 crowd last year, while also drawing in almost one million viewers on TV, although the Australian fixture, held prior to the World Cup two months ago, managed to attract just 23,000.