Newport, RI (July 7^th, 2022) … The Newport International Polo Series, presented by Turkish Airlines, is thrilled to welcome back fan favorite Team Ireland this Saturday, July 9^th after a 2-year pandemic pause in the hibernian rival's unmatched run since the 1992 inaugural season.

The Emerald Isle's top competitors are on the roster, to go head-to-head against USA in a splashy comeback, not to disappoint long-standing followers from throughout New England for a fierce 6-chukker competition, concluding with a field-side celebration of Irish inspiration.  

“We are thrilled for the return of our rivals from Ireland. They are masterful players with excellent horsemanship and technical skill, so we welcome the challenge that we know they will bring on gameday. It has been several years to overcome travel restrictions for the Irish team to make it over to Newport.  Team USA and all the fans are really looking forward to their return, and have a special itinerary planned for the occasion,” comments Dan Keating, International Polo Series founder and president.

While in Newport, the Irish team will tour the famed Newport Mansions, experience Newport by land with Newport Jaguar Tours, sail with On Watch Sailing, enjoy a tour by air with Newport Helicopter Tours, experience the opening round of the Hall of Fame Open at International Tennis Hall of Fame, experience a world-class concert during the Newport Music Festival, and sample extraordinary wines at Newport Vineyards.

Visit www.nptpolo.com for advanced ticket sales and full details on the USA vs. Ireland polo match and the Craic On après polo catered dinner.

The weekly polo matches every Saturday are an ideal conclusion to a summer’s day, in late afternoons in June through September,  minutes away from the glittering beaches of Newport, where the pastoral setting of the International Polo Grounds at Glen Farm in Portsmouth enjoys afternoon breezes and cooling coastal effect of the Sakonnet's east passage, is a welcome retreat in the peak of summer.

Last week’s match featured the championship of the USPA Northeastern Circuit Congressional Cup between finalists Glen Farm and Polombia. The battle was tight with back and forth scoring from both teams with Glen Farm edging out Polombia for a 9-8 victory, with Stuart Campbell of Glen Farm named the MVP of the match and his pony named Best Playing Pony. The winners from Glen Farm were awarded the tournament cup and prize money for their tournament win. Upcoming 2022 season highlights include several US City Challengers and 5 international rivalries in the 31^st season of the Newport International Polo Series.  

During this week’s match, prizes will be awarded to the most festive tailgate, picnic, or party decorated in the theme of the day (Irish) in the Stella Artois Best in Show Contest. The decorative picnic tradition has earned Newport Polo the title of Best Tailgating in New England from Yankee Magazine. The Daily Door Prize will award a gift from Veuve Clicquot to a lucky spectator who will be entered to win the Turkish Airlines Grand Prize Drawing which includes two round trip business class tickets anywhere in the world on Turkish Airlines.

A host of amenities will be available field-side during the afternoon including the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Cart that delivers chilled sparkling beverages to spectators. The Patio Bar will be open offering classics from Santa Margherita Wines, Stella Artois on tap, and Veuve Clicquot Champagne. New cocktails from Goslings will be available in addition to the drink of the day crafted by The Cocktail Guru. Other field-side amenities will include Gourmet Food Trucks with classic Newport flavors from Newport Chowder Company, Wally’s Hot Dog Cart, Village Greek, Amano Pizza + Gelato, Hawaiian Jims Shave Ice, Sweet B’s Donuts, and Milk Caffe. The Pro Shop will be chock-full of best sellers and newly featured items, arriving each week.   

The match will conclude with the Newport Fan Salute around BD Field by Teams USA and Ireland, followed by the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Toast and Trophy Presentation with player prizes from Providence Diamond.

Celebrity chef Kevin des Chenes will offer a catered menu of Irish specialties by advanced RSVP, and Goslings will offer a complimentary Dark ‘n Stormy for the player’s toast in the Modern Luxury Lounge.

The Newport International Polo Series applauds its 2022 sponsors including Brenton Hotel, BD, TD Bank, Turkish Airlines, Modern Luxury Boston, Herb Chambers Exotics, Vanderbilt International Properties, Hotel Viking, Santa Margherita Wines, Providence Diamond, Veuve Clicquot, Clarke Cooke House, Atria Senior Living, US Polo Association, Stella Artois, Goslings, ROCKSTAR Limo, and Classical 95.9 WCRI; and promotional partners including Newport Helicopter Tours, The Cocktail Guru, Newport Jaguar Tours, International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport Mansions, Newport Classical, Island Surf and Sport, Newport Picnic Co., Northeast Equestrian Life, Newport Vineyards and Audrain Automobile Museum.

"Our sponsors have been with us since the beginning. Without their support, the Series would not be as extensive as it is," explains Dan Keating, the Polo Series founder.

The polo grounds are located at historic Glen Farm, 250 Linden Lane, Portsmouth RI. Tickets and reservations to the polo match and associated events are available online at www.nptpolo.com. More information about the Newport International Polo Series, the venue, concessions, and amenities, can be found in the About Us section. Keep with the current 2022 team lineup and stats, events, news, and more through our weekly e-magazine (sign-up).      

About the Newport International Polo Series: 

Dating back more than 130 years in Newport, the polo matches are one of Newport's grandest & most popular traditions, a living legacy from the Gilded Age with the founding of America's First Polo Club in Newport. Open to the public, audiences of several thousand spectators enjoy contests against international teams, as well as teams representing major US cities, playing against the home team every Saturday, June through September at 5PM / 4PM in September. 

This season features teams from 8 different countries to compete against the US for the duration of the summer. This is the 31st season of the Newport International Polo Series, which has hosted teams from 35 nations including, Ireland, Germany, Spain, England, Argentina, France, Egypt, India, Australia, Costa Rica, Ghana, Canada, Chile, Jamaica, Nigeria, Portugal, New Zealand, Barbados, Scotland, South Africa, Hungary, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Kenya, Brazil, China, Italy, Mexico, Sweden, Singapore, Monaco, Morocco, Peru, Poland, Switzerland, and Colombia. 

Minutes from downtown Newport, the International Polo Grounds are located at historic Glen Farm, 250 Linden Lane (off of Rte 138) in Portsmouth, RI. The bucolic setting is the last 100 acres of what was once a 700-acre manorial farm whose settlement dates back to the 1600s. Its classical stone barns from the Gilded Age and its park-like grounds were rehabilitated by the polo series founder, Dan Keating, and thrive today as an equestrian and community recreational property, and home of the Polo Series. 

Gilded Age Legacy: Polo is, without a doubt, the oldest ball game in the world today. First recorded in the 6th-century B.C. when the Turkomans beat the Persians in the diplomatic tournament, the alluring game caught on with equestrian royalty and calvary, and took off with globalization, withstanding the tests of time. Arriving on Newport's shores during the Gilded Age, the sport had evolved for nearly 2500 years, steeped in tradition, captivating newcomers like Newport's summer sporting set who embraced the new pastime, establishing America's first polo club in 1876. A charter member of the United States Polo Association, the club today is still a trailblazing model polo club, hosting the Newport International Polo Series public exhibition matches, supporting philanthropic causes, organizing tournaments, polo club member services, and polo instruction year-round. Experience the king of games in its American landing at Newport Polo.