Manchester City
Stadium
The home of
Manchester City will next year stage its first international rugby union match.
What better way to kick off than with England’s final game of the pool stage —
against the winner of the Russia v Uruguay repechage play-off, the second leg
of which takes place in Montevideo on October 11. This is a brand new stadium
but I would ask the question why is this city not represented by the much
larger Old Trafford the place where the super league final is played. Both this
and Eland road are the only 2 venues to have champions league soccer played on
it.
Capacity 47,800
Did you know? Paula Radcliffe won her first major gold medal
here, in the women’s 5,000m at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Rugby history It staged rugby sevens at the 2002 Commonwealth
Games, with New Zealand winning the gold medal.
Number of matches 1
10.10.2015 England v
Uruguay
Sandy Park (Exeter)
Exeter Chiefs won
promotion to English club rugby’s top flight as recently as 2010, but Sandy
Park has quickly become a popular and atmospheric venue. Now it’s won promotion
to the world stage. This is another one of the few rugby venues being played in
Capacity 12,000
Did you know? Exeter was the venue for the All Blacks’ first
game in Britain, in 1905, when Dave Gallaher’s ‘Originals’ beat Devon 55-4.
Rugby history It has been an occasional venue for England
Saxons.
Number of matches 3
29.09.2015 Tonga v
Namibia
07.10.2015 Namibia v
Georgia
11.10.2015 Italy v
Romania
St James' Park
(Newcastle)
It is one of
England’s most passionate sporting cities, although the No 9s that Newcastle
fans worship tend to be centre-forwards rather than scrum-halves. But
rugby-wise, it is the city where Jonny Wilkinson spent 12 seasons playing for
Newcastle Falcons.
Capacity 52,000
Did you know? A swimming pool was built beneath one of the
stands as part of a redevelopment in 1905, and the ground is built on the site
of the city’s former execution gallows.
Rugby history The second biggest ground in England outside
London has never staged the sport before.
Number of matches 3
03.10.2015 South
Africa v Scotland
09.10.2015 New Zealand
v Tonga
10.10.2015 Samoa v
Scotland
Stadium MK (Milton
Keynes)
Milton Keynes is not normally associated with English rugby — it’s home to MK Dons FC — but that will change this year when the rugby world will become aware of the Buckinghamshire town. This was the venue of the club that replaced Wimbledon the romantic club
Capacity 30,717
Did you know? Stadium MK opened in 2007 to accommodate
Wimbledon FC’s controversial relocation to Milton Keynes.
Rugby history It has staged occasional Saracens and
Northampton games.
Number of matches 3
01.10.2015 France v
Canada
03.10.2015 Samoa v
Japan
06.10.2015 Fiji v
Uruguay
Villa Park
The home of Aston
Villa is one of the most recognisable stadiums in English football. After a
60-year absence, rugby is returning to the Birmingham ground.
Capacity 42,785
Did you know? Villa Park has hosted 55 FA Cup semi-finals,
more than any other football stadium. Hillsborough is second with 34.
Rugby history It hosted New Zealand touring sides in 1924
and 1953.
Number of matches 2
26.09.2015 South
Africa v Samoa
27.09. Australia v
Uruguay
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