England will take a rare Test to the North of England on Saturday, hosting Fiji in a Nations Championship match at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. It is England's first game in the North since 2019, and organisers hope the 52,000-seat venue is a step towards making such fixtures a habit rather than an exception.
With tickets set at 25 pounds for adults and 10 pounds for juniors, the Rugby Football Union is targeting families and first-time watchers. "We anticipate more of a family feel to that fixture with more kids and young people," RFU marketing director Ewan Turney said.
Few feel the significance more than Bill Beaumont, the Grand Slam-winning captain and northern rugby royalty. "What a great thing for the North of England. We don't get many of these," Beaumont said. "The North of England is a sporting area ... the one thing missing is a big international rugby union presence. This game gives the opportunity to northern kids to see their heroes in real life wearing the white jersey."
Former England fly-half Charlie Hodgson, a Yorkshireman capped 38 times, made the same case. "Having a game in the North is aspirational for kids up there," Hodgson said. "It's really important to get the national team in front of kids who don't have the chance to get to games."
Ex-wing Mark Cueto wants the one-off to become a fixture. "Let's have one game a year in the North," Cueto said. "People are fans of sport full stop. If England played in the North more often, people would come."
Fiji arrive with their own agenda. The Flying Fijians have set up camp in Liverpool after an opening 39-24 loss to Wales in Cardiff, and coach Senirusi Seruvakula wants a sharper performance. "We were slow in areas of the match, and we will be working on those areas this week as we prepare for the match against England," Seruvakula said. "We need to be smart in the way we deliver our way of rugby and finding a balance heading into the next match."
Fiji will be without the influential Semi Radradra and Tim Hoyt, both ruled out with injuries picked up against Wales. England, meanwhile, regroup from a chastening 45-21 defeat to South Africa in their Nations Championship opener.
History offers Fiji hope. They stunned England 30-22 at Twickenham in 2023 for a maiden victory over the men in white, even if England still lead the head-to-head 10-1. Ranked sixth in the world against Fiji's ninth, Steve Borthwick's side are favourites, but the occasion belongs as much to Liverpool as to either team. A sell-out on Merseyside would strengthen the argument that international rugby should not be confined to the south.
