Friday 10 July 2009

England modify autumn schedule agaist Australia

England has changed their autumn international schedule and is going to play against Australia at Twickenham on November 7th.

Martin Johnson's side were because of meet Fiji on November 28th but economic dilemma for the Pacific Island nation meant the unions decided to alter the fixture.

Fiji will be given the surplus money generated by the fixture and will now play two extra Tests, against America and Australia in the next 12 months as part of the deal.

The move means England's autumn schedule has been moved forward by a week. The entertainment against the Wallabies will now be their first fixture of the international season, to be followed by games with Argentina and New Zealand on the 14th and 21st correspondingly.

Rugby Football Union chief executive Francis Baron said he was satisfied that all sides had manage to reach the agreement and looked forward to facing the Aussies.

He said: "Playing a Test against Australia in replacement for the Fiji Test will allow us to generate additional revenue to provide meaningful financial support to the Fiji Rugby Union as part of the global package."

The fixture change also gives the Wallabies the chance to face all four home nations for the first time since 1984.

On that time they run to win all four games and Australian Rugby Union supervision director John O'Neill is hopeful the 2009 side can do again that feat.

He said: "The long trips to the UK and Ireland to play all four home unions are an integral part of the rich history and tradition of the Wallabies.

"I'm delighted the footsteps of the 1984 Grand Slam Wallabies will, for the first time in 25 years, be retraced by our current national side."

Next the game at Twickenham, Australia will travel to Ireland on November 15th before their match with Scotland on November 21st. The tour will end at the Millennium Stadium against Wales a week later.

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