No Plans for Ireland's Six Nations Game in the US

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) stated that there are "currently no plans or discussions" regarding Ireland playing a Six Nations match in the United States. This announcement follows comments made by World Rugby's chief executive Alan Gilpin, who expressed support for any nation wishing to host a Six Nations match in the US to expand the game's reach.

Gilpin highlighted Ireland versus Italy as a potential fixture that would attract expatriate fans in the US, potentially further establishing rugby in the country. Despite this, the IRFU firmly dismissed the idea, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining the Six Nations' appeal in its traditional format.

An IRFU spokesperson remarked: "The United States is an important growth market for rugby and we welcome initiatives that help introduce the sport to new audiences and generate new revenues for the game. However, there are currently no plans or discussions, from an IRFU perspective, regarding Six Nations matches being played in the United States. We believe the Six Nations holds a special place for supporters across all participating unions, and the opportunity for fans in Ireland and Italy to support their teams at home remains a central part of the competition's appeal."

In alignment with this perspective, the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) also distanced itself from the possibility of taking a game to the US. They acknowledged the potential of the US market for rugby but confirmed that there are no ongoing discussions about a Six Nations test match in the country.

"The United States has all the potential to be a major market for the growth of our sport: in this respect, Italy was ahead of its time by playing a test match against Ireland in Chicago back in 2018," stated a FIR representative.

Gilpin commented in an interview that hosting a Six Nations game in cities like Boston or New York could tap into the large Irish and Italian fan bases in those areas, potentially driving economic benefits. He acknowledged the dilemma of how fans from the home nations might feel about their teams playing in a different location.

The IRFU has a history of successful matches in the US, notably defeating New Zealand in front of a crowd of 60,000 at Chicago's Soldier Field in 2016, followed by a rematch in 2025, which was also financially successful.