16 May 2018

Black Ferns to play in Chicago

11:23 am on 16 May 2018

The World Champion Black Ferns will play for the first time at Chicago's Soldier Field - as they join the Māori All Blacks, the United States, Italy and Ireland in a triple-header in November.

New Zealand women's rugby sevens team wins in Japan.

New Zealand women's rugby sevens team wins in Japan. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The iconic NFL stadium will host three matches over the course of one day, featuring the US men's and women's teams taking on the Māori All Blacks and the champion Black Ferns respectively.

Six Nations Champions Ireland return to Chicago to take on their Six Nations rivals, Italy.

The Black Ferns play first, followed by Ireland v Italy and then the Māori All Blacks.

The US men's team last faced the Māori All Blacks in 2016.

The All Blacks lost to Ireland in Chicago in 2016.

Soldier Field in Chicago.

Soldier Field in Chicago. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The US women's team will be seeking revenge against the Black Ferns, after losing to eventual champions New Zealand at last year's World Cup.

The match will be an historic one for the Black Ferns who will run out on North American soil for the very first time.

New Zealand Rugby Chief Rugby Officer Nigel Cass said: "This is going to be a very special weekend for rugby and for New Zealand. Our teams, sponsors and supporters have enjoyed wonderful experiences with previous fixtures featuring the All Blacks and Māori All Blacks in Chicago, so we are excited to be able to bring our Women's Rugby World Cup champions, the Black Ferns, to be part of such a wonderful spectacle of rugby.

"These matches will be a fantastic way to kick off end of year campaigns for both teams."