England’s £10m All Blacks clash at Twickenham

Four-year wait for Test to end next autumn Twickenham set for record cash windfall

Rugby News Correspondent

England will play world champions New Zealand for the first time since 2014 next year in a match that is expected to generate a record revenue of more than £10million. The match will be part of a tough autumn schedule designed to help prepare Eddie Jones’s side for the 2019 World Cup.

As the fixture against the All Blacks falls within the international window the Rugby Football Union has not had to pay a fee to the New Zealand Rugby Union – and the governing body is expected to pocket record receipts following the confirmation yesterday that it is to bring all its corporate hospitality inhouse after the opening of the redeveloped East Stand next year.

Jones’s side will face the All Blacks at Twickenham on Nov 10 next year as part of a four-test au- tumn campaign that also features games against South Africa (Nov 3), Japan (Nov 17) and Australia (Nov 24). The match will end a four-year wait to face Steve Hansen’s side after the failure to secure a fixture against the All Blacks this autumn.

“The 2018 Old Mutual Wealth Series is incredibly important for England as we build towards the Rugby World Cup in 2019,” Jones said. “We want to win that series 4-0 and we will need to play extremely well to beat four very good teams over a four-week period.

“Over the next year we need to continue to develop a bulletproof side that can find ways to win in matches, and we will have to work hard and be smart in what we do to bridge the gap between us and the All Blacks.

“Our ambition is to be the No 1 team in the world going into the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.”

In 2014 England lost four times to Twickenham’s £54 million East Stand extension (as shown in the artist’s impression, left) will create extra space of 11,600 square metres over six levels and will, crucially, allow the Rugby Football Union to accommodate all hospitality within the stadium.

the All Blacks, including a threetest series in New Zealand. They last beat New Zealand in 2012, defeating the No1 side in the world 38-21 at Twickenham.

The Test against Japan, who Jones coached at the 2015 World Cup, will be only the second time the two sides have met.

England will also face South Africa four times next year, with the Rugby Football Union confirming a three-test tour next June.