Ireland To Play World Champions In Aviva Stadium Opener
The Irish Rugby Football Union today announced that current World champions South Africa will be the first international opposition to play Ireland at the new Aviva Stadium in November 2010.
The 50,000 capacity Aviva Stadium is due to be handed over to the Irish Rugby Football Union and the Football Association of Ireland upon completion in April next year.
The Ireland rugby team is already scheduled to play Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina in the GUINNESS Series during November 2010 as part of the international calendar.
The South Africa international on November 6, 2010 has now been added to that schedule to open the international season.
The historical significance of the game will also see the age old international rugby tradition where the home team changes its jersey if there is a colour clash relaxed for this special occasion.
For the game in the Aviva Stadium, the South African Rugby Union has agreed to wear an alternative strip to allow the Ireland team to wear its own traditional green jersey.
Commenting on the announcement, IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne said: “This is the first time that we have played a fourth international Test match in November and the new Aviva stadium will be a fitting venue for the game to take place in.
“The Aviva Stadium promises to become an iconic landmark for Irish sport and we are delighted that World champions South Africa have agreed to be the opposition for the game.”
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Rugby Union has confirmed the venue for the All Blacks v Ireland Test on Saturday, June 12, 2010.
Ireland will face New Zealand and Australia during their 2010 summer tour, with the New Zealand game taking place at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth.
On Saturday, June 26, Declan Kidney’s men will take on the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
It will be the second time New Plymouth has hosted an All Blacks match, after the successful sell-out encounter against Samoa last year.
Yarrow Stadium, the home of the Taranaki side, has a 25,000 capacity and occasionally hosts some of the Hurricanes’ Super 14 matches.
It will also be the venue for Ireland’s opening fixture of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, against the Americas 2 qualifier on Sunday, September 11, 2011.
For full details of Ireland’s 2009/10 international fixtures, please click here.