New Zealand Rugby has confirmed the All Blacks will play the United States at FedEx Field outside Washington D.C. in October.
The All Blacks vs USA Eagles on Oct. 23 to play for the new 1874 Cup. The trophy references the year of the first rugby match played in the United States, between McGill and Harvard University.
The All Blacks added the match as part of their autumn tour to Britain and France.
New Zealand last played the United States in 2014 when it won 74-6 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The USA Eagles (USA Rugby’s team name) are coming off their first assembly since 2019 and look ahead to a busy fall with qualification for the 2023 France Rugby World Cup in focus.
The United States is bidding to host the 2027 or 2031 men’s Rugby World Cup or the 2029 women’s Rugby World Cup.
The 23 October fixture falls a week before the Eagles face Ireland at another NFL venue, Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas.
The US is bidding to host the 2027 or 2031 men’s Rugby World Cup, using NFL and college stadiums. It is also bidding for the women’s tournament in 2029.
The USA v New Zealand game at FedEx – in Landover, Maryland, just outside the District of Columbia – will be played for the 1874 Cup, named for the year Harvard and McGill University, from Canada, played the first rugby game in the US.
ABOUT 1874 CUP
The first account of organized rugby being played in the United States was in 1874 in a collegiate match between Harvard University (Boston, MA) and McGill University (Montreal, Quebec). The 1874 Cup pays homage to this first contest and recognizes the history and tradition of rugby in North America. Planned as a regular event attracting the world’s best rugby teams to the United States capital city, Washington, DC, the 1874 Cup is designed to help grow awareness and interest in the sport amongst Americans as the country bids to host the Rugby World Cup in either 2027 or 2031 for the men and 2029 for the women.
