IRELAND will play their first rugby international at night when they meet Western Samoa under lights on Tuesday November 12th at Lansdowne Road with a 7.30 kick-off.
The original date suggested for the fixture was Saturday November 9th but with the Republic of Ireland due to play a World Cup qualifying match against Iceland on November 10th at Lansdowne Road, it would not have been prudent to play a rugby international on the surface 24 hours before the soccer match.
The match against Western Samoa will be an all-seater affair as the seating put in place on the terraces for the soccer match will be retained. Stand tickets will cost £15, terrace seating £8 and schoolchildren £3.
Western Samoa will also play Munster and that match has been fixed for Musgrave Park on November 9th. The Australians will also be touring Ireland in November and because of the international against Western Samoa the fixtures between Connacht and Australia and Leinster and Australia have been reversed. Connacht will meet Australia in Galway on November 13th and the match between Leinster and, Australia, originally scheduled for the 13th, has been switched to November 20th.
With the match against the Samoans confirmed it will mean that Ireland will play seven internationals next season - that is, if the match against England in the Championship goes ahead as scheduled.
Ireland will meet Australia on November 30th and play Italy on January 4th followed by the four championship matches.
Malcolm O'Kelly, the St Mary's College, Leinster, Ireland A and under-21 international second row, has become the latest recruit by the London Irish club. Brian Cusack, Bective Rangers under-21 international second row is scheduled to sign for Bath.