Ireland to make Eden Park return for All Blacks Test

Ireland will return to Eden Park to face New Zealand in next year’s inaugural Nations Championship.

Andy Farrell’s side face Australia in Sydney on July 4 and Japan on July 11 before traveling to Auckland to face the All Blacks at the 50,000 capacity Eden Park on July 18.

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The November window will see Ireland host Argentina, Fiji and South Africa.

Ireland have already visited the spiritual home of New Zealand rugby four times, losing all four matches. Their latest journey ended with a 42-19 defeat in the first match of the 2022 Test series, before historic victories in Dunedin and Wellington.

New Zealand’s 52-match unbeaten streak at Eden Park dates back to a loss to France in July 1994.

The inaugural edition of the 12-team biennial event features six rounds of matches across the summer and autumn testing windows before a ‘finals weekend’ from November 27-29 at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

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After each team has played the other six from the opposing hemisphere once, it is ranked in its own hemisphere.

Finals weekend in London will begin with the sixth-placed Northern Hemisphere team taking on its Southern Hemisphere equivalent, and culminates with the two group winners clashing for the title.

Results from the finals weekend will also contribute to an overall north vs. south score and the title.

Ireland’s calendar

July 4

Australia vs Ireland

July 11

Japan vs Ireland

July 18

New Zealand vs Ireland

November 6-8

Ireland vs. Argentina

November 13-15

Ireland v Fiji

November 21

Ireland v South Africa

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Finals weekend

November 27

Sixth place North versus Sixth place South

Third place North versus Third place South

November 28

Fifth place North versus Fifth place South

Second place North versus Second place South

November 29

Fourth place North versus Fourth place South

First place North versus First place South

Everything you need to know about the Nations Championship