Search icon

Rugby

30th Oct 2025

New Zealand called out for outrageous claim on fan split in Chicago for Ireland game

SportsJOE

Not sure about this one….

Ireland take on the All Blacks this Saturday in Chicago’s Soldier Field, in a repeat of their 2016 clash at the same ground, which saw Ireland men record their first-ever win over New Zealand.

Naturally, the stadium was flooded with Irish fans, from those who travelled over and those who are part of the large population of people with Irish roots, both living in Chicago and in other parts of the US.

And it will likely be the same this year, with the majority of supporters getting behind the men in green for the sold-out clash.

However, the New Zealand Herald have opted for a strange headline on Facebook for one of their articles, which they have sold as, “The All Blacks have sold out a huge Chicago stadium; can they now help save US rugby?”

Considering the population of those with Irish ancestry in Chicago could be up to 400,000, and the fact that Ireland is far closer to the Windy City than New Zealand, this headline needs to be taken with a pinch or two of salt.

It was rightfully called out on Facebook, with comments such as:

“What do you mean the AB’s sold out the stadium ? There will be 75% Irish fans there FFS”.

“Gonna be 95% Irish there to welcome the AB’s…..”

“psss I was there in 2016; it was (and will be again) an Ireland home game”.