RFU confirm World Cup warm-up match to be held in the North

England will travel north from their home base at Twickenham to play Italy in preparation for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Newcastle United’s St James’ stadium will stage the match, as reported by TRP on July 29, against Conor O’Shea’s side which will serve as one of four warm-up matches to be played ahead of England‘s flight to Japan.
The 52,345-capacity ground is no stranger to holding rugby events, hosting three Rugby World Cup pool-stage matches in 2015 and drawing a crowd of 30,174 for the Premiership clash between Newcastle Falcons and Northampton in March earlier this year.
For England, it will be the first time since October 2015 they have played a home Test away from Twickenham.
Head coach Eddie Jones commented: “These Quilter Internationals will be extremely important to the squad’s final preparations before we head out to Japan.
“It is great news to be able to take England to another part of the country and Newcastle will be fantastic hosts like they were for the matches here in 2015. We will look forward to playing in front of a great northern crowd.”

---

England’s schedule for the 2019 Quilter Internationals series

England v Wales – Twickenham Stadium, London (Sunday 11 August 2019, KO 14:00)
Wales v England – Principality Stadium, Cardiff (Saturday 17th August, KO TBC)
England v Ireland – Twickenham Stadium, London (Saturday 24 August 2019, KO 15:00)
England v Italy – St James’ Park, Newcastle (Friday 6 September 2019, KO 19:45)