England have revised their 2010 Autumn international schedule and will now begin their four-match series against New Zealand on 6 November. The fixture for the Hillary Shield had originally been fixed for 4 December but has been moved following a request from the All Blacks.
England will then play Australia, Samoa and the world champions South Africa in a packed autumn schedule. As a result of the fixture reshuffle, South Africa's game against the Barbarians will now be played on 4 December at Twickenham, a day earlier than previously scheduled.
Premier Rugby and the Professional Game Board confirmed the change after agreeing to move the England players' release period forward by a week. Although the original request came from the All Blacks, the new schedule of five Saturday matches, all with 2.30pm kick-offs, is ideal for the Rugby Football Union.
The RFU's business operations director, Paul Vaughan, said: "We're delighted that Premier Rugby Limited and the Professional Game Board have approved the change which completes a superb series of games at Twickenham Stadium this autumn.
England's autumn schedule:
6 November England v New Zealand (2.30pm)
13 November England v Australia (2.30pm)
20 November England v Samoa (2.30pm)
27 November England v South Africa (2.30pm)
England will then play Australia, Samoa and the world champions South Africa in a packed autumn schedule. As a result of the fixture reshuffle, South Africa's game against the Barbarians will now be played on 4 December at Twickenham, a day earlier than previously scheduled.
Premier Rugby and the Professional Game Board confirmed the change after agreeing to move the England players' release period forward by a week. Although the original request came from the All Blacks, the new schedule of five Saturday matches, all with 2.30pm kick-offs, is ideal for the Rugby Football Union.
The RFU's business operations director, Paul Vaughan, said: "We're delighted that Premier Rugby Limited and the Professional Game Board have approved the change which completes a superb series of games at Twickenham Stadium this autumn.
England's autumn schedule:
6 November England v New Zealand (2.30pm)
13 November England v Australia (2.30pm)
20 November England v Samoa (2.30pm)
27 November England v South Africa (2.30pm)
