England to play Rugby World Cup warm-up test in Newcastle

Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — England will play a test in the northern city of Newcastle for the first time among four matches ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

England will face Italy at St. James' Park, the home stadium of Premier League soccer team Newcastle, on Sept. 6, 2019, before flying to Japan.

Before that, the team will play Wales twice — on Aug. 11 at Twickenham and six days later in Cardiff — and Ireland at Twickenham on Aug. 24.

St. James' Park hosted matches in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. England last played a home test away from Twickenham during that tournament, against Uruguay at Etihad Stadium.

England has also played home tests at Old Trafford in Manchester and in Huddersfield.

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