If you like Wales, you’ll love these fixtures.
Ireland’s 2019 rugby calendar is taking shape.
The IRFU has confirmed their four warm-up games ahead of the 2019 World Cup and, oddly, there are no games scheduled for Japan.
The Grand Slam champions are building nicely for a tilt at the Webb Ellis trophy and Sean O’Brien recently told us:
“If we go and win the World Cup, the buzz will be a lot better than Limerick winning the All-Ireland, I’d say. Yeah, I’d say the country would go on shutdown for a couple of weeks.”
Cutting straight to it, then, can we win the World Cup?
“Yeah,” he replied, “I believe we can.
“We have the squad of players to definitely go further than we have in previous years. It’s building nicely as well, in terms of young lads coming through again this year. It’s a great mix of youth and experience. I think we have to believe that, yeah.”
Many expected Joe Schmidt’s side would play at least one warm-up match in the Land of the Rising Sun but, instead, there will be two games in Dublin and trips to London and Cardiff. As per the IRFU release:
‘Ireland will host Italy on Saturday, August 10 at the Aviva Stadium before playing England at Twickenham on August 24 and Wales at the Principality Stadium on August 31.
‘Ireland will play their final fixture ahead of RWC19 at the Aviva Stadium against Wales on Saturday, September 7.’
That gives Schmidt’s men what should be a rousing send-off at Lansdowne Road before they jet out for pool games against Japan, Scotland, Samoa and Russia.
Their first game is against the Scots, on September 22, so there will be no Tests over in Japan to get up to speed with local conditions and climates.
Ticket information for their two fixtures at the Aviva Stadium will be available in 2019.
Ireland Guinness Summer Series Fixtures:
IRELAND v Italy
Aviva Stadium
Saturday 10th August, 2019England v IRELAND
Twickenham Stadium
Saturday 24th August, 2019Wales v IRELAND
Principality Stadium
Saturday 31st August, 2019IRELAND v Wales
Aviva Stadium
Saturday 7th September, 2019
The men in green will be aiming to go three steps better than their previous World cup best(s) of reaching the quarter-finals, in 1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011 and 2015.
