This special ‘Best of English’ match will be played on Saturday, April 25th, 2015, and while the game will be a Saints home match the organisation will be shared with stadiumMK management and England Rugby 2015, the organising committee for Rugby World Cup 2015. This includes match day operations and advance ticket sales, and will give all parties the opportunity to test the venue with a high-profile rugby event ahead of Rugby World Cup 2015.
The 2014 Aviva Premiership finalists have already met at stadiumMK in December 2012, a game Saracens only won 17-16 when Stephen Myler’s last-gasp 50-metre penalty hit the crossbar.
Nearly 19,000 supporters headed to stadiumMK that day, and with the venue now expanded to 30,500 a new record attendance is expected, beating the current 22,220 mark set when the Saints hosted Munster in the 2011/12 Heineken Cup.
The game will be included in the 2014/15 Saints Season Ticket package, with full ticketing details to be announced in due course. The club will also be arranging transport between Franklin’s Gardens and stadiumMK on the match day itself.
Saints chief executive Allan Robson said that the game was a superb opportunity to give rugby a showpiece occasion in Milton Keynes at the start of the biggest year in the sport’s history in England.
“When England Rugby 2015 approached us to help them prepare for the tournament by hosting a game in Milton Keynes we thought long and hard before agreeing to the proposition as we know how important it is to our supporters to play in Northampton,” he said. “After weighing up the pros and cons of playing in Milton Keynes, the board of directors made a unanimous decision to move because we believe that it is in the longer-term interests of all parties.
“We needed a game that was both high profile enough to fill the stadium but that would also give us the best possible chance to retain home advantage.
“A game against Saracens fits this bill perfectly. We have had some thrilling encounters with them over the past few years, no more so than in the Aviva Premiership final, and it going to be a game which is sure to excite all rugby supporters in the area.
“We all want the three Rugby World Cup 2015 games in Milton Keynes to be a success and so we will be working closely with stadiumMK’s management and England Rugby 2015 to help their preparations by making sure that the event runs as smoothly as possible and provides a fantastic showcase for the sport.”
Northampton Borough Council leader Cllr David Mackintosh said that he understood why the decision had been made.
“Obviously we would all prefer for the Saints to be playing a match like this at Franklins Gardens, but their involvement in the Rugby World Cup is great for them and great for rugby in our town,” he commented.
“This administration has been very supportive of the Saints, and we are proud of their achievements and contribution to Northampton. I hope that now we have helped them to expand their stadium we will see more high profile games played at Franklin’s Gardens in the future.”
England Rugby 2015 chief executive Debbie Jevans thanked the club for agreeing to move the game to Milton Keynes.
“Testing is an important part of our preparations for the Tournament and this fixture will help us fine tune our plans for the three Rugby World Cup 2015 matches that will be hosted at stadiumMK,” she said.
“I would like to thank Northampton Saints for agreeing to move this fixture and I have no doubt that their supporters will make this a memorable occasion, playing their part in getting us ready to welcome the world next year.”
Cllr Hannah O’Neill, Deputy Leader of Milton Keynes Council, added: “Milton Keynes welcomes players and fans from both Northampton Saints and Saracens to the city in what promises to be a huge year for rugby.
“As our closest Aviva Premiership club, the Saints has many supporters living and working in Milton Keynes and it’s common to see their colours in the city.
“To have such a marquee Aviva Premiership match in Milton Keynes with Rugby World Cup 2015 just around the corner is fantastic and an opportunity to give residents a taste of what’s to come.”
MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman said that he was looking forward to welcoming the Saints and Saracens back to stadiumMK.
“The two teams played out an exciting game here in December 2012 in front of almost 19,000 supporters and we hope next year’s clash will be just as entertaining,” he commented.
“The high-profile fixture provides the people of Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas with the perfect chance to warm up to Rugby World Cup 2015 later in that year, in what promises to be a big year for the sport and the city.”
Article source: http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/commonwealth-games/cwg-news/rugby-player-stuart-hogg-called-up-to-team-scotland.1404296335
Best of English heading to Milton Keynes
No comments:
Post a Comment