After a diet of Pro12 and European Champions Cup matches staged at night under lights in all corners of Europe, Ireland's Friday night debut game in the 2017 Six Nations Championship will hardly count as a huge step away from the rugby norm.
The match against Wales in Cardiff on March 3rd of that year, however, is a first and takes place in the Millennium Stadium at 8.05pm. It will be Ireland’s fourth game of the series with just England in the Aviva Stadium remaining on March 18th.
Competition organisers have released Six Nations Championship fixtures for the next two years with Ireland opening their 2016 account against Wales on Saturday, February 7th before back to back away trips to play France in Paris on Saturday, February 13th and England in Twickenham on Saturday, February 27th.
Finish off
Joe Schmidt’s team will finish off with back-to-back home games against Italy on Saturday , March 12th and a trip to Murrayfield on Saturday, March 19th.
Night matches always serve up a different atmosphere to those played in mid-afternoon, or worst of all, lunchtime and despite the game being staged in Cardiff, Dublin can expect to do well from the fixture.
Although the eight o’ clock time will give people an opportunity to get home from work for the kick-off, the ‘hang around’ value of Friday nights is expected to provide a unique atmosphere in Cardiff and Dublin.
Depending on how the previous three 2017 matches go against Scotland, Italy and France, the Welsh match result could set up a showdown with England in the Aviva the day after St Patrick’s Day at a more conventional time of Saturday at 5.00pm.
The home of Welsh rugby, with the roof open or closed, always creates a special atmosphere. France are visitors there in 2016 and will run out under Friday night lights in the Millennium.
2016
Feb 6th: France v Italy (Stade de France, 2.25pm); Scotland v England (Murrayfield, 4.50pm).
Feb 7th: Ireland v Wales (Aviva Stadium, 3pm).
Feb 13th: France v Ireland (Stade de France, 2.25pm); Wales v Scotland (Millennium Stadium, 4.50pm).
Feb 14th: Italy v England (Stadio Olimpico, 2pm)
Feb 26th: Wales v France (Millennium Stadium, 8.05pm)
Feb 27th: Italy v Scotland (Stadio Olimpico, 2.25pm); England v Ireland (Twickenham, 4.50pm)
Mar 12th: Ireland v Italy (Aviva Stadium, 130pm); England v Wales (Twickenham, 4pm)
Mar 13th: Scotland v France (Murrayfield, 3pm)
Mar 19th: Wales v Italy (Millennium Stadium, 2.30pm); Ireland v Scotland (Aviva Stadium, 5pm); France v England (Stade de France, 8pm).
2017
Feb 4th: Scotland v Ireland (Murrayfield, 2.25pm); England v France (Twickenham, 4.50pm)
Feb 5th: Italy v Wales (Stadio Olimpico, 2pm)
Feb 11th: Italy v Ireland (Stadio Olimpico, 2.25pm); Wales v England (MiIllennium Stadium, 4.50pm)
Feb 12th: France v Scotland (Stade de France, 3pm)
Feb 25th: Scotland v Wales (Murrayfield, 2.25pm); Ireland v France (Aviva Stadium, 4.50pm)
Feb 26th: England v Italy (Twickenham, 3pm)
Mar 10th: Wales v Ireland (MiIllennium Stadium, 8.05pm)
Mar 11th: Italy v France (Stadio Olimpico, 1.30pm); England v Scotland (Twickenham, 4pm)
Mar 18th: Scotland v Italy (Murrayfield, 12.30pm); France v Wales (Stade de France, 2.45pm); Ireland v England (Aviva Stadium, 5pm).
