Rugby Union: Premiership champions Northampton Saints to host Saracens in ...

Saints fans celebrate in Milton Keynes

Northampton Saints will be returning to Milton Keynes’ stadiummk next season to host Saracens in the Aviva Premiership.

The league game between the two sides – a repeat of last year’s final – will take place at the 32,000 capacity ground on April 25 of next year.

Saints have agreed to switch the clash from Franklin’s Gardens to help England Rugby 2015 with their preparations for the Rugby World Cup – which features stadiummk as a venue for three matches.

The game is an opportunity to test the match day operations with a large rugby audience.

Northampton have previously played three Heineken Cup matches in Milton Keynes and set the attendance record for the stadium of 22,220 against Munster in January 2012.

Saints chief executive Allan Robson says that the game against Saracens can kick start a big year of rugby in the area.

“Having a successful Rugby World Cup will benefit the growth of English rugby as a whole, and by working to ensure that stadiummk is ready to host matches we will also be helping to develop the sport in our region,” he said.

“We carefully weighed up the pros and cons of moving the game, but in the end the board of directors made a unanimous decision because we believe that it is in the longer-term interests of all parties.

“We’ll be working with ER2015, Milton Keynes Council and the stadiummk management to ensure that the match is a success and entrenching the Saints’ place as the Aviva Premiership club for Milton Keynes, which in the future will bring more people to Northampton once Franklin’s Gardens has been expanded and we have completed our £6million development of the new Barwell Stand.

“The game will also generate additional income which can be re-invested back into the club, notably the playing effort, to help keep us at the top of English and European club rugby.

“We’ve played at stadiummk on a number of occasions now and know that it is a great rugby venue, especially when it is filled to capacity, and are looking forward to seeing the stands packed with our supporters.”

Meanwhile, 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 Franklin’s Gardens, but their involvement in the Rugby World Cup is great for them and great for rugby in our town,” he said.

“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.”

MK Dons Chairman Pete Winkelman said: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming Northampton Saints and Saracens back to stadiummk.

“The two teams played out an exciting game here in December 2012 in front of a packed lower tier, however, with the upper tier having opened since then, it would be fantastic if we could set a new attendance record this time around.

“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. It is also a great opportunity for us to work with England Rugby 2015 to ensure that delivery plans can be tested in advance of the tournament, in what promises to be a massive 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

Rugby Union: Premiership champions Northampton Saints to host Saracens in ...