INTERNATIONAL NEWS:LEINSTER'S GROUND at the RDS will become the fourth Dublin venue to stage an international rugby match when Fiji plays against Ireland there in November as part of the Guinness Series. Ireland will also play against Australia and World Champions South Africa, with both of those matches taking place in Croke Park.

International rugby has already been played in Croke Park, Lansdowne Road and Leinster’s Cricket ground in Rathmines. The first home international match Ireland ever played back in December 1875, the same year the Irish Football Union was formed, against England was staged in the Observatory Lane ground.

The IRFU also confirmed the kick off times and venues for the games.

Ireland will open their international season against Australia, who will be making their one and only appearance at Croke Park in a Sunday match.

It will be their first visit to Ireland since 2006, when Ireland secured back to back wins over both Australia and South Africa at Lansdowne Road.

Eight days after beating the Springboks, Eddie O’Sullivan’s side won 21-6 against Australia with tries coming from Denis Hickie and Geordan Murphy. The game against Australia will be quickly followed by the visit of their Pacific neighbours Fiji to the RDS.

The final game of the series moves back to Croke Park for another first with the current World Champions South Africa coming to town on the last Saturday in November.

Ticket prices and packages for all of the Guinness Series games will be announced in the coming weeks.

GUINNESS SERIES: Sunday, November 15th – Ireland v Australia Croke Park, 3pm; Saturday, November 21st – Ireland v Fiji, Royal Dublin Society, 5.15pm; Saturday, November 28th – Ireland v South Africa Croke Park, 2.30pm.