England head North for Italy Quilter International
Newcastle will play host to England for the first time in 2019, when St James’ Park hosts the Quilter International against Italy on Friday September 6.
Eddie Jones’ side will play four matches over August and September before heading to Japan, with the 52,405 capacity home of Newcastle United hosting the final fixture before the squad flies to Tokyo,
This will be the first England fixture to be hosted in Newcastle and the first time a match featuring England has taken place outside of Twickenham since the team’s final Rugby World Cup 2015 pool fixture against Uruguay.
Further highlighting the magnitude of a game being drawn to the North East, it will be the first time in a decade a non-world cup game has been staged away from London after England played Argentina at Old Trafford in the summer of 2009.
With St James’ having held three Rugby World Cup 2015 pool matches, a record-breaking Newcastle Falcons match in Premiership Rugby and gearing up to host the 2019 Heineken Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup finals, England v Italy is set to further enhance the city’s reputation as a rugby destination.
Tickets for what will be one of the most anticipated sporting fixtures in the North East during 2019 will go on sale in September, with supporters wishing to be at the front of the queue encouraged to join the England Rugby Club at **[www.englandrugby.com/tickets][1]**
Hospitality packages will be confirmed soon with details set to be confirmed in the coming weeks. Supporters wishing to enjoy the full hospitality experience should call 0191 214 2892 or email corporatesales@newcastle-falcons.co.uk to register their interest.
All England home Quilter Internationals will be broadcast live on Sky Sports with kick off times confirmed below, with the other games in the series seeing the team take on Wales (Sunday 11 August) and Ireland (Saturday 24 August) at Twickenham Stadium and a trip to Cardiff for a second fixture against Wales (Saturday 17 August).
Newcastle Rugby Ltd chairman Semore Kurdi said: “The news that the RFU will stage a major England international is exciting and fits in with a strategy to grow the game at all levels in the North East by using big game events.
“A record crowd for our game against Northampton and strong sales for the European finals shows there is a healthy appetite for rugby in Newcastle and we look forward to working with the RFU and Newcastle United to ensure a full house and a great occasion.”
England head coach Eddie Jones said: ““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 play in front of a great Northern crowd.”
Cllr Kim McGuinness Cabinet Member for Culture Sport and Public Health said: “I am delighted that England have chosen to play their last game before heading off to Japan in Newcastle at St James’ Park. The game is a significant addition to the sporting legacy of the City and recognises our ability to stage top class international sporting events.”
**2019 Quilter Internationals – Live on Sky Sports**
– Sunday 11 August 2019: England v Wales, Twickenham Stadium, KO 14:00
– Saturday 24th August 2019: England v Ireland, Twickenham Stadium, KO 15:00
– Friday 6th September 2019: England v Italy, St James Park, Newcastle, KO 19:45
**Away match**
– Saturday 17th August, Wales v England, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, KO & broadcast details TBC
[1]: http://www.englandrugby.com/tickets
