Arizona Tribune - Ireland-All Blacks series to kick off in Auckland on July 2

NYSE - LSE
NGG -0.08% 78.06 $
RBGPF -1.45% 69 $
BCC -3.06% 76.86 $
CMSC 0.05% 20.82 $
CMSD -0.05% 20.68 $
GSK -2.78% 48.54 $
RIO 0.54% 103.83 $
RYCEF 0.2% 19.96 $
BCE -0.08% 23.65 $
BTI -0.36% 55.15 $
RELX -2.33% 34.7 $
AZN -1.66% 160.04 $
BP 2.38% 44.88 $
JRI 0.49% 12.2 $
VOD 2.37% 17.31 $
Ireland-All Blacks series to kick off in Auckland on July 2
Ireland-All Blacks series to kick off in Auckland on July 2 / Photo: PAUL FAITH - AFP

Ireland-All Blacks series to kick off in Auckland on July 2

Ireland's first Test in New Zealand for a decade will take place in Auckland on July 2, the opening match of three highly-anticipated clashes against the All Blacks announced on Tuesday.

Text size:

New Zealand Rugby confirmed the three-Test series will begin at Eden Park on Saturday, July 2, followed by Tests in Dunedin on July 9 and Wellington on July 16.

Ireland have toppled the All Blacks in three of their last five meetings, including an emphatic 29-20 win in Dublin in November.

However, the Irish have lost all 12 Tests they have played in New Zealand.

NZR revealed a full schedule of home fixtures for 2022 after two Covid-19 disrupted seasons.

There will be three Rugby Championship Tests in New Zealand in 2022 -- two against Argentina and a Bledisloe Cup match against Australia.

The All Blacks will face Argentina in Christchurch on Saturday, August 27 and again a week later in Hamilton.

Australia travel to Eden Park, Auckland, on September 24 just a week after the trans-Tasman rivals lock horns in Brisbane in the first of two Bledisloe Cup encounters this year, reduced from three because of pandemic-related travel difficulties.

The remaining Rugby Championship fixtures featuring Australia, South Africa and Argentina are still to be confirmed.

It was also announced that New Zealand's Black Ferns will host a four-nation women's tournament in June, four months before the country hosts the World Cup.

The Pacific Four tournament will feature round-robin matches between New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States.

All Blacks 2022 home Tests:

July 2 v Ireland, Auckland

July 9 v Ireland, Dunedin

July 16 v Ireland, Wellington

Rugby Championship

Aug 27 v Argentina, Christchurch

Sep 3 v Argentina, Hamilton

Sep 24 v Australia, Auckland

O.Gutierrez--AT