The return to Chicago is confirmed - Ireland will take on New Zealand in Soldier Field once again later this year.
Nine years on from Joe Schmidt's men getting a first ever test win over the All Blacks in 2016, the two sides will face off once again at the home ground of the NFL's Chicago Bears.
The game will kick off on November 1st at 15:10 local time (20:10 Irish time), as part of the drive to promote rugby in the USA in the buildup to their hosting of the 2031 (men's) and 2033 (women's) Rugby World Cups.
It will be an historic occasion but the landscape of this rivalry could scarcely be more different than it was ahead of that famous 2016 clash.
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Ireland v New Zealand in Chicago: Round two a completely different ball game
On the 5th of November 2016, Ireland secured a first ever win over New Zealand in men's test rugby in dramatic fashion.
It was a day that went down in Irish rugby history, mainly because the win had been so unexpected. Not only had Ireland never beaten New Zealand but the teams were on vastly different trajectories at that point.
Back-to-back world champions, the All Blacks had won 18 straight test games, a record since matched by England the following March. Hilariously, that record was also ended by Ireland as they stopped Eddie Jones' side claiming a Six Nations Grand Slam.
By contrast, Ireland were still reeling from the disappointment of the 2015 World Cup, and the 2016 Six Nations had been a mixed bag for Joe Schmidt's men.
When the first Chicago classic was announced on February 16th 2016, Ireland were a lowly 8th in the world rankings, trailing leaders New Zealand by almost 16 points.
Entering the game on November 5th, Ireland sat 6th in the world rankings, nearly 15 full ranking points below the mighty New Zealand. The All Blacks appeared unassailable, over 7 ranking points clear of second-placed England.
Things have changed dramatically in the years since.
Ireland followed up their win in Soldier Field with a first over New Zealand on Irish soil in November 2018, and a first-ever series win in New Zealand in July 2022.
Including Chicago 2016, the last ten meetings of the sides have seen both win five each, showing how this has grown into one of rugby's great modern rivalries.
The difference in ranking points shows how much Irish rugby has changed since their last Stateside clash with the All Blacks.
In an extraordinary shift from 2016, Ireland (2nd) sit above New Zealand (3rd) in the World Rankings.
All Blacks fans will rightly point out that, for all of the Irish growth over the past decade, they still came up short in both of the World Cup clashes of the teams in that time period.
However, Irish fans will rightfully have enjoyed the extraordinary progression of the national team since Chicago 2016 and hope for a repeat of that result when the sides meet later this year.
Whereas the 2016 game was a dramatic bolt from the blue for Ireland, the fixture this November marks the latest instalment in what can now truly be called a rivalry.
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