'Hugely exciting' - Ireland set to host Southern Hemisphere quartet in November

The IRFU confirmed the fixtures on Thursday night.

150th YEAR: Andy Farrell, Ireland head coach before a press conference at the Aviva Stadium. Pic: Brian Lawless, PA Wire.

Thu, 14 Mar, 2024 - 20:00

Simon Lewis

Ireland are set to play four home Test matches this November with New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji and Joe Schmidt’s Australia all set to grace the Aviva Stadium turf this autumn.

The IRFU confirmed the fixtures on Thursday night with the quartet of Southern Hemisphere opponents completing a full calendar year of heavyweight clashes for Andy Farrell’s side, which will bid for back-to-back Guinness Six Nations titles against Scotland in Dublin this Saturday before travelling to South Africa this July for two Tests against the world champion Springboks.

It will not be the first time Ireland have played four Tests during the autumn series. Their first home stand at the rebuilt Aviva in November 2010 saw Declan Kidney’s team face South Africa, Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina on consecutive weeks while they have twice included trips to Chicago to kick start the international window, famously beating the All Blacks under Schmidt at Soldier Field in 2016 before three home Tests and then meeting Italy at the same venue in November 2018.

This year’s Autumn Nations Series will be different in a couple of senses.

Ireland will open up against New Zealand on a Friday night, November 8, for their first meeting against incoming head coach Scott Robertson and since losing a World Cup quarter-final to the All Blacks last October. T

heir match the following week is also on a Friday night, November 16, against World Cup semi-finalists Argentina.

The rest of the schedule moves to more traditional Saturday afternoon fixtures, first against the Flying Fijians on November 23 and then a finale against former Ireland boss Schmidt’s new charges the Wallabies, a meeting which will serve as the IRFU’s 150th anniversary challenge match to round out 2024.

"This November’s line-up is a hugely exciting one for the Irish rugby public and we are looking forward to competing against four hugely talented sides,” Farrell said.

“There is an added dimension to this year’s Autumn Series, with a fourth match against Australia set to mark the IRFU’s 150th celebrations.

"We look forward to testing ourselves against some of the most exciting teams in the world, with whom Ireland has such strong traditions and rivalries. It promises to be a Series to remember."

Ireland’s 2024 Autumn Nations Series fixtures: