London Irish, Saracens in NY rugby clash

London Irish will play Saracens in New York later this season in the first English Premiership game to take place overseas, organisers Premiership Rugby announced on Tuesday.

The ground-breaking match, an Irish home game, will take place at the 25,000-capacity Red Bull Arena, home of Major League Soccer team the New York Red Bulls, on March 12 next year.

"This is an enormous opportunity for London Irish and a chance for our club to gain exposure in one of the biggest sporting cities in the world," Irish chief executive Bob Casey said.

The announcement reflects the growing popularity of rugby union in the United States, where it is the fastest-growing team sport.

"The New York region has a significant Irish community and is renowned for its annual St Patrick's Day Parade, so it's the perfect time for our club to venture into this market," Casey said.

"Rugby is set for an exciting time with Rugby World Cup 2015 reaching its final stages, the inclusion of sevens in the 2016 Olympic Games, and now the first-ever Aviva Premiership fixture in the USA."