New Zealand All Blacks to face Ireland in Soldier Field rugby rematch
The matchup on Nov. 1 will be the second time the two teams have faced off in Chicago.
Ireland defeated the All Blacks for the first time in their 111-year history at Soldier Field in 2016. Since then, they've played 10 times, with each team claiming five victories.
"Chicago's a city where sports history is made. We are ready to make history again. Chicago is ready to make this truly an unforgettable experience for rugby fans and visitors from around the globe," Mayor Brandon Johnson said.
The rematch comes as rugby is growing in popularity in the U.S. Major League Rugby, the North American professional league – with 11 teams in the U.S. and one in Canada – saw a 13% increase in attendance last year over 2023, and a 55% rise in viewership, according to a Facebook post by the league.
"Rugby is definitely one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, and there is no better way to experience that than right here in Chicago, the greatest sports town there is," said Kara Bachman, executive director of the Chicago Sports Commission.
Both teams said they look forward to returning to the U.S. to showcase rugby to American audiences.
"This will be an epic rematch in one of the world's great sporting cities. All Blacks supporters will remember well the last time we faced Ireland at this venue, which launched one of our fiercest modern rivalries," All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said in a statement.
"We hold the New Zealand Rugby Union in the highest regard; the All Blacks have been the embodiment of sporting excellence for generations, and we have the utmost admiration for their outstanding contribution to our game. As we look forward to November 1, we know rugby fans from around the world will once again come together to witness an unforgettable clash of two outstanding teams," Irish Rugby Football Union CEO Kevin Potts said in a statement.
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