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The USA Eagles are to host the New Zealand All Blacks at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, on October 23. Multiple media outlets have reported the fixture and a press conference has been scheduled for Monday in Washington, DC, to confirm the fixture.
New Zealand last faced the USA in 2014 when they were 74-6 winners in front of a record 61,500 crowd at Soldier Field in Chicago. They played a neutral clash against Ireland at the same venue in 2016.
Originally intended to be played in Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium was not available due to a conflict with the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. The Eagles will now play New Zealand in Maryland followed by their previously announced October 30 game against Ireland at Allegiant Stadium.
Notably both the New Zealand and Ireland games fall outside of the traditional November test window. USA Rugby has in the past negotiated for the release of their European-based players and could do so again, though several are also expected to be involved in World Cup Qualifiers in early September and early October. Additional tests in November have yet to be confirmed.
FedEx Field is the home of the Washington Football Team with a capacity of 82,000. It was constructed in 1997 and features a Bermuda grass playing surface.
