England Rugby announce addition to November fixture schedule

International rugby is returning to Bath, with The Recreation Ground set to host England A vs Argentina XV on Friday, 6 November, kick off 19:45pm (GMT).

It will be the first meeting between each union’s development sides since 2009 and the third overall. England ‘A’ previously beat Argentina ‘A’ 22-17 at Franklin’s Gardens in December 1996 and again in the Churchill Cup in Colorado in June 2009 (28-20).

Argentina XV are currently licking their wounds after losing their Americas Rugby Championship crown to Chile at the weekend.

Since being reintroduced in 2024, England A have played six fixtures, with five wins and a defeat. That loss was 12 months ago in England A’s only previous outing at The Rec, with the All Blacks XV winning 31-14.

Since then, head coach Mark Mapletoft has steered the team to consecutive away victories over Spain and Ireland XV.

Featuring a blend of senior capped internationals and young talent from the Gallagher PREM, England A is seen as a vital step in the England Rugby player development pathway.

Of those that represented the ‘A’ squad in the 2025/26 season, Noah Caluori, Emmanuel Iyogun and George Kloska went on to earn their senior men’s debut for England this summer.

“Facing Argentina XV first up presents a brilliant challenge for our players and staff, and an opportunity to test ourselves against quality opposition from the very start of the season,” said Mapletoft.

“There’s always a special sense of enjoyment and occasion when you run out under the Friday night lights, and fixtures like this are a fantastic platform for players to showcase their talent and pride in wearing an England shirt.

“The depth and quality across the England pathway and PREM Rugby continues to grow, so there’s real excitement about the squad we can select and the opportunity these matches provide for players to take another step forward in their England journey.”