IT'S GREAT UP NORTH

Ahead of their ‘away game' in Liverpool against Fiji, a brief history of the England men's team north of Watford...

- NEIL SQUIRES

THE JURY may still be out on the new Nations Championship but it has already delivered one precious gift to the game before a ball has been kicked - an England match in the North. Everton’s superb new Hill Dickinson Stadium, having hosted a rugby league Ashes Test last year, will on 11 July stage international rugby union for the first time.

If there’s some confusion over the fact that Fiji v England is actually a home Test for the Pacific Islanders, then action-starved northern rugby fans will care more ultimately that the national team is playing in their backyard than which team's name appears first on the scoreboard.

The fact is this sort of thing does not happen often. In the pro era there have only been six England Tests staged in the region. So for England Grand Slam-winning captain Bill Beaumont → northern rugby royalty - it is a moment to be savoured.

“What a great thing for the North of England,” he says. “We don't get many of these. I never played an England game in the North.

“The North of England is a sporting area. Whatever sport, whatever code, it’s a hotbed. We have the big football clubs, the Test cricket grounds... the one thing missing is a big international rugby union presence in the North and now we have the opportunity.

“The scarcity value of England coming to town creates a special atmosphere at these games. This game gives the opportunity to northern kids to see their heroes in real life wearing the white jersey. And that is the generation which hopefully will carry the game on.”