Ireland to face Italy in Chicago

Ireland’s return to the scene of their greatest victory has been set for November 3 with confirmation Joe Schmidt’s team will face Six Nations rivals Italy at Chicago’s Soldier Field during the autumn internationals.

The fixture marks a first opportunity to revisit the American Midwest since the momentous win over world champions New Zealand on November 5, 2016, the first time in 111 years Ireland had beaten the All Blacks.

Schmidt’s 2018 Grand Slam winners will be the headline act at the famous home of the NFL’s Chicago Bears, topping the bill against Conor O’Shea’s Azzurri as the feature event in a tripleheader of international rugby at Soldier Field.