Premiership Rugby has announced that its first overseas fixture will take place next year when London Irish and Saracens face off in the United States.
The duo's round 16 fixture will take place at the Red Bull Arena, home of Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls, on Saturday, March 12.
"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," London Irish chief executive officer Bob Casey said.
"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.
"Rugby is set for an exciting time with Rugby World Cup 2015 reaching its final stages, the inclusion of 7's in the 2016 Olympic Games, and now the first ever Aviva Premiership fixture in the USA. We are well placed to capitalise on these exceptional opportunities to create a lasting legacy for both rugby and London Irish."
Premiership Rugby's Chief Executive Mark McCafferty said that taking the league abroad had been on the cards for several years.
"This is a significant day in the history of Premiership Rugby and one that has taken a number of years and a lot of hard work to bring to fruition," he said.
"Premiership Rugby is the most competitive league in world rugby with a fast-growing following outside England and we are delighted to stage a competitive match in the USA."
The 2015-16 season started earlier this month and Saracens, the reigning champions, are top with two wins from two, while Irish are bottom having lost both of their matches.
Pascal Lemesre
