International rugby is heading to Mansfield this fall. The USA Rugby Women’s Eagles will take on Italy at 5 p.m. on October 17 at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium, marking one of the first major global sporting events at the city’s brand-new $88 million venue.
The City of Mansfield, Texas Municipal Government announced the countdown to the match in a Facebook post published yesterday, calling it a 50-day milestone before kickoff and encouraging fans to grab tickets through a provided link. General public ticket sales for the fixture actually launched back on July 2, 2026 via AXS, following an early presale window that opened two days earlier, per the Dallas Sports Commission.
The match is being played as part of World Rugby’s WXV Global Series, and it also serves as the opening fixture of a three-weekend U.S. fall series produced by USA Rugby and promoter TEG Rugby Live, with additional matches slated for Nashville on October 24 and Newark on October 30, according to RugbyPass. The tour includes both Women’s and Men’s Eagles matches against international opponents, spreading the sport across new markets in a single stretch of autumn.
A Rematch With History Behind It
For the Eagles, the Mansfield match carries a bit of unfinished business. The USA Women’s Eagles last played Italy on October 28, 2023, during the WXV 2 tournament in Cape Town, South Africa, where Italy came away with a 30–8 victory, with Italy controlling speed and possession throughout that contest, according to USA Rugby. Three years later, both squads arrive in Texas building toward much bigger stakes: World Rugby unanimously selected the United States to host the 2031 Men’s Rugby World Cup and the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup back in May 2022, the first time the men’s tournament will be held in the Americas…