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

Head Coach Andy Farrell has issued a squad update with all players passed fit and available for selection ahead of Saturday's game. The team will be announced on Thursday for the clash.

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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.