New Zealand All Blacks to face Ireland in Soldier Field rugby rematch
Soldier Field will host an international clash of the rugby titans in November, as the New Zealand All Blacks will take on Ireland in a rematch of their epic 2016 clash in Chicago.
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.
Presale offers begin Thursday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
40 minutes ago
- USA Today
Ohio State Athletic Director Ross Bjork meets with media to discuss state of program
Ohio State Athletic Director Ross Bjork meets with media to discuss state of program College athletics continue to be transformed at breakneck speed. Over the last few years, we've seen conferences re-align, Name, Image and Likeness become prevalent and extremely meaningful, the transfer portal turn college athletics into free-agency, and now, we have direct revenue sharing taking center stage after the approval of the House Settlement. With all of that going on, and with the recent news that will again change things, Ohio State Athletic Director Director Ross Bjork took some time to meet with the media to give a state of college athletics, what it means for Ohio State, and provide some direction of the program given the size and impact of such a massive athletic department. He also took time to field some questions from the media that made their way to the banks of the Olentangy. It was a long and wide-ranging press conference, but we felt it necessary to provide the full video and audio of Bjork's time at the podium on Thursday to give you the full scale of all of his comments. Watch and listen to Bjork discuss things like the House Settlement, how revenue sharing will be funded, expanding the College Football Playoff, the status of night games, and much more. Thanks to WBNS 10TV, the CBS affiliate in Columbus for the video. This won't be the last time we hear from Bjork with the everchanging landscape of college athletics. Ohio State had a really good AD with Gene Smith prior to Bjork's arrival, and so far the newest AD seems to know what he's doing and is ready to also knock it out of the park. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Rare Feat at US Open as Star Golfer Notches Historic Albatross
Rare Feat at US Open as Star Golfer Notches Historic Albatross originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Heading into the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, much of the conversation was centered on just how difficult the course will be. Advertisement Through the early portion of day one, J.J. Spaun's -4 is the best so far, but we have seen many players struggle to make par despite the conditions probably being the best of the tournament. While the course is loved for being so challenging, amazing shots can be made and Patrick Reed delivered one for the ages. On the fourth hole, which is a 622 year par five, Reed hit a beautiful shot from 286 yards out on his second attempt and it trickled all the way into the hole. It's one of the rarest shots in the sport and just the fourth double eagle in U.S. Open history. To make it more impressive, he shot it blind, only realizing he made it because of the crowds' reaction. With one swing of the club he moved from one over to two under, which could go a long way for the entire tournament. Advertisement Reed, a 34-year-old American golfer born in San Antonio, Texas, became a professional in 2011 after helping Augusta State University win back-to-back NCAA Division I titles, and has since amassed nine PGA Tour victories, including the 2018 Masters Tournament. He joined LIV Golf like many other notable players in 2022 and his best finish in a U.S. open is fourth, which he achieved in 2018. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox Sports
2 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Fans don't appear to be snatching up tickets to the Club World Cup
Associated Press If slashed ticket prices, closed stadium sections and moved seats are any indication, fans aren't exactly clamoring to attend the Club World Cup. The tournament opens Saturday with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami facing Al Ahly at Florida's Hard Rock Stadium. Thirty-two teams are taking part in the newly expanded tournament that will be played across 11 U.S. cities. The final is set for July 13 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. On Ticketmaster, FIFA's official ticketing partner for the Club World Cup, the least expensive tickets to the opener were $349 in December. As of Thursday, there were tickets available for just under $80. Upper deck seats for certain games at Seattle's Lumen Field and Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field were no longer available. Links to a smattering of resale tickets in those sections did not work. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Associated Press that some sections of Lumen Field in Seattle had been closed, but did not offer details. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak on the record. In Philadelphia, some ticketholders received messages that said they were moved. 'As we continue preparations to deliver a world-class event, we are making a few enhancements inside the stadium to optimize operations and ensure the best possible matchday experience for fans, players and the global broadcast audience," the message said. 'As a result of these stadium optimizations, some seats, including yours, will be relocated. We want to ensure you that your new seat will be in the same or better value zone than your original one.' Ticketmaster used dynamic pricing for ticket sales, which is based on demand and other factors. They referred all questions about sales to FIFA. FIFA did not respond to questions about whether sections were closed due to slow ticket sales, or whether fans who originally bought tickets in those sections were moved or offered refunds. But soccer's international governing body did offer a general statement. 'We anticipate great attendances and electric atmospheres at its inaugural edition, with excitement growing with every round of matches and the tournament ultimately standing as the undisputed pinnacle of club world football,' the statement said in part. 'The appetite speaks for itself: fans from over 130 countries have already purchased tickets. The top 10 markets are led by the United States, followed by Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, France, Japan, Switzerland, Germany and Portugal — a clear sign of global anticipation and reach.' With 32 international teams, there are undoubtedly some clubs that are unfamiliar to American audiences. There are also 63 total matches, meaning not all can occur in prime hours for fans. Argentine club River Plate is playing Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds at Lumen Field on Tuesday at noon local time ($24 tickets), while a noon game between Brazil's Fluminense and Germany's Borussia Dortmund had tickets available via Ticketmaster for $23. However, some matches were drawing fans, including Paris Saint-Germain's opener against Atletico Madrid on Sunday at the Rose Bowl, where the least expensive seats were $100. The least expensive ticket for July's tournament final available through Ticketmaster was $769. FIFA President Gianni Infantino urged fans to buy tickets at a hype event in the leadup to the tournament this week. 'Be part of history,' he said. 'Football is such an important sport all over the world. We have billions of people watching this Club World Cup from home who would love to club and to attend." ___ AP soccer: recommended
