Old Trafford to host England v Argentina rugby Test

England will play Argentina at Old Trafford in the first Test of this summer's two-game series.

The 76,000-capacity Manchester United FC ground will host England and the Pumas on Saturday 6 June, 4pm kick-off, with the second Test in Argentina on Saturday 13 June 13, venue to be confirmed.

Manchester City Council and the North West Development Agency worked with the Rugby Football Union to bring an England international to Manchester for the first time since 1997.

Francis Baron, RFU chief executive, said: "We received a request from the Argentinean Rugby Union to play one of the tests in England to generate funds to invest in their squads.

"We are delighted to have been able to help them by securing Old Trafford, one of the most famous football stadiums in the world, and our thanks go to Manchester City Council, the NWDA and Old Trafford itself.

"Rugby Union is thriving in the North West and this is a great opportunity for us to play a match away from Twickenham and aid the development of the game in the region. Tickets will be competitively priced and we are looking forward to a great occasion."

Ricardo Garc-a Fernández, chairman of the Professional Rugby Board of the Union Argentina de Rugby, said: "We are really happy with the agreement with the Rugby Football Union to play the first Test match in Manchester. Those extra funds we will get for playing there allow us to continue investing in our local development programmes.

"Regarding the second Test to be played on June 13 in Argentina, we will know the venue at the end of February after having concluded the diligences with those local unions that have applied for hosting this Test match."

Ticketing details will be available in due course.