Ireland to host Japan, New Zealand and Argentina in autumn internationals

Ireland will face the All Blacks four times in the 2021-22 season.

Andy Farrell's Ireland will face New Zealand as part of their autumn schedule (PA Wire)

Ireland will host autumn internationals against JapanNew Zealand and Argentina the Irish Rugby Football Union has announced.

Japan will visit Dublin on 6 November, followed by the All Blacks a week later, before the Test series is rounded off with a clash against the Pumas on 21 November.

Andy Farrell’s men were already scheduled to begin their autumn campaign away to the United States in Las Vegas on 30 October.

The game against the All Blacks will be the first of four meetings between the countries next season, with Ireland set for a three-Test tour of New Zealand next summer.

The three-time world champions, who defeated Ireland 46-14 in the quarter-finals of the 2019 World Cup, have not visited the Aviva Stadium since suffering a first loss on Irish soil in 2018.

Ireland signed off the 2020/21 season by thrashing the USA 71-10 on Saturday evening, having begun a two-match summer series with an entertaining 39-31 win over Japan.

Head coach Farrell said: “We have an exciting year of rugby ahead with an action packed autumn international window, the Six Nations Championship and a tour of New Zealand.”