To mark the opening of the Aviva Stadium, the IRFU have confirmed that the first game to be played in 2010 will be a match between two provincial teams, with a Leinster/Ulster combination against a Munster/Connacht selection.
This historic fixture will be played at the new venue on Saturday, 7 August.
Leinster and Ulster were the first representative teams to play in the old Lansdowne Road nearly 133 years ago on 16 December 1876. Both provinces were also on hand to play the final game, 'The Last Stand' in the stadium on New Years Eve 2006, when Leinster beat Ulster 20-12 in the Magners League.
While they were rivals on both of these occasions, they will be joining forces as a Leinster/Ulster selection will play a Munster/Connacht team for the first ever game in the Aviva Stadium.
The game will form part of the provincial preseason calendar and present Irish rugby stakeholders with the opportunity to be the first to witness rugby returning home to the iconic Aviva Stadium.
The Aviva Stadium will play host to some of the top teams in world rugby during the Guinness Series in November next year. Ireland is scheduled to play four internationals for the first time during that period against World Champions South Africa, followed by games against Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina.
Commenting on the announcement, IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne said: 'Coming on the back of the announcement that World Champions South Africa will be the first international opposition to play here, this promises to be a great occasion to open the Aviva Stadium to the Irish Rugby public.
It was felt that a combined provinces fixture would be the most appropriate way to do this providing a look back into the history of the game while also creating a new chapter for Irish Rugby."
Aviva Stadium Rugby Fixtures 2010 (kick-off times to be confirmed):
Connacht/Munster v Leinster/Munster
Saturday, 7 August
Ireland v South Africa
Saturday, 6 November
Ireland v Samoa
November, 13/14 November
Ireland v New Zealand
November 20/21
Ireland v Argentina
November 27/28
