Chicago will host All Blacks rugby match against Ireland

By Kyle Thele

After last year’s popularity, the New Zealand All Blacks are returning to Chicago for another rugby match. This time the All Blacks will face off against the Ireland team.

The rugby teams will face off once again at Soldier Field, but the match won’t happen until Nov. 5, 2016. Last year’s match between the All Blacks and the United States was extremely popular, even if the game wasn’t very close. The defending world champions beat the U.S. 74-6 in the first ever international rugby match hosted in the United States.

Like last year, the match between Ireland and the All Blacks is expected to be a sell-out. The Irish Times reports:

The match was a 61,500 sell-out, and although only 23,112 attended Australia’s 47-10 win over the USA Eagles in a World Cup warm-up match last September, it will be a surprise if the combined popularity of both Ireland and the All Blacks did not ensure a sell-out for their meeting next November.

As Crain’s Chicago reports, the match isn’t official yet, but Soldier Field officials are in “advanced talks” to confirm the game.

Last year tickets went for a wide range of prices, ranging from $30 to $250 in the 61,500 seat stadium.

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