Ireland will play two midweek fixtures against the Māori All Blacks on this year’s summer tour in addition to the three-Test Series against New Zealand.
The first match against the Māori All Blacks launches the summer tour at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton on Wednesday, June 29 (kick-off 8.05am Irish time).
The second game in the series against the Māori All Blacks takes place following the second Test in Dunedin and will be held at the Sky Stadium in Wellington on Tuesday, July 12 (kick-off 8.05am Irish time).
Ireland have played the Māori All Blacks on two previous occasions. In 1888 the New Zealand Natives beat Ireland 13-4 at Lansdowne Road, and the Māori All Blacks were victorious in 2010 at the Rotorua International Stadium, winning 31-28.
All of Ireland’s summer tour fixtures in New Zealand will be broadcast by Sky Sports in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.The IRFU have confirmed that Ireland will play two midweek matches against the Māori All Blacks on their tour of New Zealand.
Ireland will play a total of five matches on their tour of New Zealand in June and July, as they play the Māori All Blacks twice and the All Blacks three times.
The midweek matches have long been rumoured and have now finally been confirmed, with Ireland kicking off their tour against the Māori on Wednesday June 29th, before playing the All Blacks in the first test on Saturday July 2nd.
IRELAND MEN’S TEAM – 2022 SUMMER TOUR FIXTURES:
Māori All Blacks v Ireland
FMG Stadium, Hamilton, Wednesday, June 29 (kick-off 7.05pm local time/8.05am Irish time)
New Zealand v IRELAND
Eden Park, Auckland, Saturday, July 2 (kick-off 7.05pm local time/8.05am Irish time)
New Zealand v IRELAND
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, Saturday, July 9 (kick-off 7.05pm local time/8.05am Irish time)
Māori All Blacks v IRELAND
Sky Stadium, Wellington, Tuesday, July 12 (kick-off 7.05pm local time/8.05am Irish time)
New Zealand v IRELAND
Sky Stadium, Wellington, Saturday, July 16 (kick-off 7.05pm local time/8.05am Irish time)