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Canada’s third stop on their November test series, to be played at a neutral venue, appears to have found a home. French media sources are now reporting that the match will be played at the scenic Stade des Alpes in Grenoble. Originally slated for Saturday, November 26, the match will now take place on the evening of Friday, November 25, kickoff time to be confirmed.
The 20,000 seat stadium is cohabited by Top 14 club FC Grenoble and soccer team Grenoble Foot 38. This will be the first men’s senior international played at the stadium, though the grounds have previously hosted international u20 rugby and in 2014 a senior women’s 6 Nations match between France and England. Top 14 games at the site have averaged crowds of more than 14,000 over the past two seasons.
A neutral venue will be used for the match to accommodate the traveling schedules of the two teams. Canada will play Ireland in Dublin on November 12, followed by Romania in Bucharest on November 19. Samoa start their tour against France in Toulouse on November 12, traveling to Tbilisi to face Georgia on November 19. The two sides last met in Toronto during the 2015 Pacific Nations Cup, with Samoa winning narrowly 21-20. They have met on neutral soil on two previous occasions, Samoa winning both by scores of 23-13 at Vannes, France, in 2014 and a lopsided 42-12 result at Colwyn Bay, North Wales, in 2012.
