One of the biggest rugby matches ever played in the United States will kick off at 5 p.m. ET on Nov. 1, as No. 3 Ireland Rugby faces the No. 2 New Zealand All Blacks at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Even if the teams weren’t vying for No. 1 in the world, favorable seeds in the 2027 Rugby World Cup and featuring some of the sport’s biggest stars, just the matchup of two of the world’s premier rugby nations would be enough to fill a stadium.

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Add in the backdrop of Chicago and the growing excitement around the 2031 Rugby World Cup coming stateside, and this match means even more — not just for the teams involved, but for the sport itself.

That’s a lot for this fixture to live up to, but there are many reason why it should be a success.

Here are five things to know ahead of Ireland vs. New Zealand:

Ardie Savea Is Playing In It — He’s FloRugby’s No. 1 Player In The World

Ardie Savea topped the FloRugby player rankings earlier this year and then played like it throughout The Rugby Championship. 

Savea headlines a list of stars across both lineups, which actually make up much of our Top-100 list.

Upping the ante! Here is today's segment from FloRugby's 2025 Top 100 players list! 🏉

Today, we dive from numbers 74 to 50 with some veterans and new entrants, but one thing is for certain, the list is full of ballers! 🔥https://t.co/9FyV7U5CjP

— FloRugby (@FloRugby) July 2, 2025

This match alone features five players ranked in FloRugby’s top 10.

• MORE: The 100 Best Rugby Players In The World: The Full List

Ireland Rugby vs. New Zealand Is One Of The Best Rivalries In Rugby Today

When you think of international rivalries, it’s easy to name South Africa vs. New Zealand or England vs. — well — everyone. But Ireland vs. New Zealand has become the game’s second-best rivalry (sorry, All Blacks vs. Springboks is still No. 1).

Especially over the last decade, as Ireland has enjoyed a golden age of rugby, this fixture has carried massive stakes. 

The rivalry went to another level when the All Blacks beat Ireland in the 2023 Rugby World Cup — a rare World Cup match where New Zealand entered as the underdog.

And while the All Blacks have won the last two meetings, Ireland had won the previous two. 

The teams last met on a neutral field in November 2016 — also in Chicago — when Ireland won 40-29, marking the first victory in program history over the All Blacks.

Ireland vs. All Blacks All-Time Record

The All Blacks have won 84% of their matches against Ireland and own a 32-1-5 record in the series. All five Irish wins have come since 2016.

Johnny Sexton remains Ireland’s all-time scoring leader against the All Blacks, while Dan Carter leads the way for New Zealand.

Jordie Barrett And His Irish Ties

Jordie Barrett helped Leinster Rugby win the United Rugby Championship earlier this year — and perhaps if Leinster had played him more against Northampton… too soon, Leinster fans?

Barrett, one of three brothers on the All Blacks side, has the third-most points scored against Ireland across seven matches for New Zealand (49 points).

Well, that was a fun few months! 🔥

A big thank you to Jordie Barrett who returns to New Zealand as a URC champion. 🙌 🏅

Until next time, Jordie. 🤜🤛#NeverLessThanEverything pic.twitter.com/ZICf0pyG3q

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) June 20, 2025

He’s now back in Super Rugby after his one-year, mostly successful stint with Leinster — which matters because Leinster makes up roughly 90% of Ireland's national team.

How To Watch Ireland vs. All Blacks

The Ireland vs. New Zealand match will stream live on Peacock and CNBC, which will carry all the Autumn Nations matches this fall.

Rugby On FloRugby In November

Please note all times have been converted to Eastern Time (ET). 

Nov. 1, 2025

• 9:05 a.m. ET: Barbarians vs. All Blacks XV, at TBD
• 9:30 a.m. ET: RC Toulonnais vs. Lyon OU, at Stade Mayol, Toulon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
• 11:35 a.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Union Bordeaux, at Stade Pierre-Fabre, Castres, Occitanie
• 11:35 a.m. ET: Section Paloise vs. Perpignan, at Stade du Hameau, Pau, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
• 11:35 a.m. ET: MHR vs. ASM-Rugby, at GGL Stadium - Complexe Yves du Manoir, Montpellier, Occitanie
• 11:35 a.m. ET: Aviron Bayonnais vs. US Montauban, at Parc des Sports Jean Dauger, Bayonne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
• 12:10 p.m. ET: Japan vs. South Africa, at TBD
• 1 p.m. ET: Life vs. Mount St. Mary's, at TBD
• 4 p.m. ET: Stade Toulousain vs. Stade Francais, at Stade Toulousain, Toulouse, Occitanie

Nov. 2, 2025

• 3 p.m. ET: Stade Rochelais vs. Racing 92, at Stade Marcel Deflandre, La Rochelle, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Nov. 8, 2025

• 7 a.m. ET: Georgia vs. USA, at TBD
• 8 a.m. ET: Manu Samoa vs. Paraguay, at TBD
• 8:15 a.m. ET: England A vs. All Blacks XV, at TBD
• 10:30 a.m. ET: RC Toulonnais vs. Stade Rochelais, at TBD
• Noon ET: Davenport vs. Lindenwood, at Davenport University Farmer's Insurance Athletic Complex, Caledonia, Michigan
• 4 p.m. ET: Life vs. MAU, at Lupo Field, Marietta, Georgia

Nov. 13, 2025

• 10:30 a.m. ET: Manu Samoa vs. Namibia, at TBD

Nov. 15, 2025

• 7 a.m. ET: Georgia vs. Canada, at TBD
• Noon ET: Davenport vs. McKendree, at Davenport University Farmer's Insurance Athletic Complex, Caledonia, Michigan

Nov. 18, 2025

• 10:30 a.m. ET: Manu Samoa vs. Belgium, at TBD

Nov. 21, 2025

• 10:35 a.m. ET: Union Bordeaux vs. Section Paloise, at Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Nov. 22, 2025

• 7 a.m. ET: Georgia vs. Japan, at TBD
• 8:30 a.m. ET: US Montauban vs. Stade Toulousain, at Stade Sapiac, Montauban, Occitanie
• 10:35 a.m. ET: Perpignan vs. MHR, at Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan, Occitanie
• 10:35 a.m. ET: Stade Rochelais vs. Castres Olympique, at Stade Marcel Deflandre, La Rochelle, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
• 3 p.m. ET: Lyon OU vs. ASM-Rugby, at Matmut Stadium, Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
• 3:05 p.m. ET: Racing 92 vs. Aviron Bayonnais, at Paris La Défense Arena, Nanterre, Île-de-France

Nov. 23, 2025

• 10:35 a.m. ET: Stade Francais vs. RC Toulonnais, at Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris, Île-de-France

Nov. 28, 2025

• 2:45 p.m. ET: Newcastle vs. Leicester Tigers, at Kingston Park Stadium, England
• 2:45 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Exeter Chiefs, at TBD
• 2:45 p.m. ET: Dragons vs. Leinster, at Rodney Parade, Wales
• 2:45 p.m. ET: Ulster vs. Benetton, at Kingspan Stadium, Northern Ireland

Nov. 29, 2025

• 7 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Lions, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, Gauteng
• 8 a.m. ET: Zebre Parma vs. Cardiff, at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma, Emilia-Romagna
• 8:30 a.m. ET: Aviron Bayonnais vs. Lyon OU, at Parc des Sports Jean Dauger, Bayonne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
• 10 a.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Harlequin F.C., at Kingsholm Stadium, England
• 10:35 a.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Perpignan, at Stade Pierre-Fabre, Castres, Occitanie
• 10:35 a.m. ET: ASM-Rugby vs. Stade Francais, at Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
• 10:35 a.m. ET: RC Toulonnais vs. US Montauban, at Stade Mayol, Toulon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
• 10:35 a.m. ET: MHR vs. Union Bordeaux, at GGL Stadium - Complexe Yves du Manoir, Montpellier, Occitanie
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster vs. DHL Stormers, at Thomond Park, Limerick
• 12:30 p.m. ET: Edinburgh vs. Ospreys, at Hive Stadium, Scotland
• 12:45 p.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Northampton Saints, at Ashton Gate Stadium, England
• 2:45 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Glasgow Warriors, at Parc y Scarlets, Wales
• 2:45 p.m. ET: Connacht vs. Sharks, at Dexcom Stadium, Galway
• 3 p.m. ET: Stade Toulousain vs. Racing 92, at Stade Toulousain, Toulouse, Occitanie

Nov. 30, 2025

• 10 a.m. ET: Saracens F.C. vs. Bath Rugby, at TBD
• 3:05 p.m. ET: Section Paloise vs. Stade Rochelais, at Stade du Hameau, Pau, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby

Professional club rugby in Europe all streams on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to: 

• United Rugby Championship
• PREM Rugby
• Top 14
• Investec Champions Cup
• EPCR Challenge Cup
• Currie Cup
• Super Rugby
• And more

FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

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