Premiership crosses the Atlantic
The fixture will see the Exiles play reigning champions Saracens, at the home of Major League Soccer's New York-based franchise in Harrison, New Jersey on Saturday, March 12, 2016.
This is a milestone in the development of London Irish and of the league which underlines the growing international interest in Premiership rugby and showcases it in the biggest sports market in the world – where rugby is currently the fastest growing team sport.
Taking place amidst the build up to the St. Patrick's Day festivities in the "Big Apple", this London Irish home game will also be a celebration of Irish culture for the many thousands of first, second and third generation Irish people living in the New York region.
"This is an enormous opportunity for London Irish and a chance for our club to gain exposure in one of the biggest sporting cities in the world. The New York region has a significant Irish community and is renowned for its annual St. Patrick's Day parade, so it's the perfect time for our club to venture into this market.
"Rugby is set for an exciting time with the 2015 World Cup reaching its final stages, the inclusion of Sevens in the 2016 Olympic Games, and now the first ever Premiership fixture in the USA.
"We are well placed to capitalise on these exceptional opportunities to create a lasting legacy for both rugby and London Irish. We intend to continue to be at the forefront of the development of the game in the USA," London Irish Chief Executive Officer, Bob Casey said.
Mark McCafferty, Premiership Rugby's Chief Executive expressed his joy at the announcement.
"This is a significant day in the history of Premiership Rugby and one that has taken a number of years and a lot of hard work to bring to fruition. Premiership Rugby is the most competitive league in the world, with a fast growing following outside England and we are delighted to stage a competitive match in the USA.
"There are ambitious plans to grow the game in the States and this is the latest stage in that strategy. I'd like to thank both London Irish for their support and vision in making this bold step as well as Saracens and our partners. We firmly believe this will be a great success and will showcase live Premiership Rugby to a new audience," he said.
USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville looks forward to the memorable match.
"We are looking forward to bringing these two world class clubs to the New York area for what will be a memorable matchup. Our sport continues to grow in the United States, and we believe this event will be another big step forward in the growth of the game," Melville said.
