Report: NZ back at Soldier Field to play Ireland in 2016

Report: NZ back at Soldier Field to play Ireland in 2016

Published Nov. 13, 2015 8:36 a.m. ET

Rugby World Cup champion New Zealand is going back to Soldier Field in Chicago next November and lining up against Ireland.

The match will be on Nov. 5, according to Friday's Irish Times.

New Zealand played the United States in the first rugby match at Soldier Field, the home of the NFL's Chicago Bears, en route to Europe in 2014. A second-string All Blacks side won 74-6, but drew a sell-out crowd of 61,500 in what was considered a marketing and promotional success.

Only 23,000 turned up at Soldier Field in September to see Australia beat the U.S. 47-10 in a World Cup warm-up. But the combined popularity of New Zealand and Ireland should ensure another sell-out in what is expected to be a doubleheader, with the U.S. to face opposition yet to be determined.

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Ireland will host a second match with New Zealand in Dublin on Nov. 19, followed by World Cup finalist Australia on Nov. 26.

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