London Irish will 'host' the first-ever overseas Aviva Premiership game when they take on champions Saracens in New York on March 12, 2016.

The Exiles and Premiership Rugby confirmed on Tuesday that the round 16 fixture would be staged at the 25,000 capacity Red Bull Arena, home of the New York Red Bulls.

It will take place in the build up to the city's St Patrick's Day festivities, with a club statement suggesting the game would be a "celebration of Irish culture for the many thousands of first, second and third generation Irish people living in the New York region."

London Irish Chief Executive Officer, Bob Casey said: "This is an enormous opportunity for London Irish and a chance for our Club to gain exposure in one of the biggest sporting cities in the world. The New York region has a significant Irish community and is renowned for its annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, so it's the perfect time for our Club to venture into this market.

"Rugby is set for an exciting time with Rugby World Cup 2015 reaching its final stages, the inclusion of Sevens in the 2016 Olympic Games, and now the first ever Aviva Premiership fixture in the USA. We are well placed to capitalise on these exceptional opportunities to create a lasting legacy for both rugby and London Irish. We intend to continue to be at the forefront of the development of the game in the USA."

Mark McCafferty, Premiership Rugby's Chief Executive added: "This is a significant day in the history of Premiership Rugby and one that has taken a number of years and a lot of hard work to bring to fruition. Premiership Rugby is the most competitive league in world rugby with a fast-growing following outside England and we are delighted to stage a competitive match in the USA."

USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville, meanwhile, said the game represented "another big step" for the sport as it continues to grow in the country.

"We are looking forward to bringing these two world class clubs to the New York area for what will be a memorable matchup," he said.

"Our sport continues to grow in the United States, and we believe this event will be another big step forward in the growth of the game."

Tickets for the clash go on sale this Friday, Oct. 30.