Ireland to play in USA as PRO12 plots North American expansion

The Ireland rugby team will return Stateside this summer.

Ireland have booked themselves a Test match against USA in New Jersey. The friendly will take place at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, which hosted a Premiership game between Saracens and London Irish last March. It will be welcome return to the home of the brave for Ireland, who scored a historic victory over the mighty All-Blacks at Chicago's Soldier Field in November. The 40-29 win on American soil ended 111 years of hurt, marking their first ever win over New Zealand. Philip Browne, chief executive of the IRFU, voiced his excitement over the fixture in a statement.

“It is great to be returning to the US. The team received a fantastic reception in Chicago. There are a lot of Ireland rugby fans on the east coast of America and we hope that they will again come out in numbers to support the team this summer.”

His comments are interested in light of the Pro12’s reported plans to create a two-division Guinness Atlantic Rugby Championship in North America. Two franchises, in Toronto and Houston, are being eyed up in a new tournament format which is hoped to be implemented from the 2018/2019 season onwards, according to a report The Scotsman. Ireland will face the Eagles without any players called up to the British and Irish Lions. The Lions will take on the Crusaders in Christchurch on the day of the USA match in New Jersey.