re: The BIG RUGBY thread: World Rugby now (live & on demand) via ESPN3/app

The All Blacks could be headed back to Chicago to play the Eagles, just not the same All Blacks they played last year. According to multiple reports both New Zealand and Ireland are looking to stage a match in Chicago in November 2016. The match would be a part of a double-header that also would see the Maori All Blacks take on the Eagles. The match would once again come after New Zealand's The Rugby Championship campaign and on their way to their November test in Europe.

Thanks to their big payday last year it shouldn't come as any surprise that the All Blacks want to come back to America. Ireland have also been wanting to come to the U.S. to try and tap into the Irish-American community. This match would accomplish both of those goals.

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Making it a doubleheader makes sense in many regards but it also comes with more risk. Now with the Wallabies coming this year there will no doubt be a wearing off of the cache of the event over time. Adding in a team like Ireland would bring in a new crowd but it would also mean that the payday would have to be split. Bringing in the U.S. to play the Maori All Blacks would help keep U.S. fans invested, but again, it would mean the pay day would be split more.

It's very important to note that this is just a discussion at the moment and that nothing is set but it looks like it's well on the way to happening. This match also seems like a perfect fit for the new Rugby International Marketing. Promoting international teams on U.S. soil could be a big part of their business and this is exactly what they are looking for.