RFU confirm England will not play matches away from Twickenham

England will not take international matches around the country as they are committed to Twickenham’s ability to generate more than £12million every time the national team runs out in front of 82,000 fans.

There have been calls for the RFU to take England matches to Old Trafford, the Etihad and St James’s Park following the impact of the World Cup last year.

Andy Cosslett, the new RFU chairman, accepts taking England’s World Cup match against Uruguay to Manchester last year was a big success, but said: “It’s not simply a case of would you like to do it, because as a Mancunian, of course I would and everybody had a great day at the Etihad. But the Union has demands on its finances.

“The record investment we’ve been able to put into the game is because we’ve got financial stability and Twickenham games with 82,000 people are a big contributor to that. It is a big trade-off and at this point we’re keeping games at Twickenham.

“It’s getting that balance right and understanding the financial implications. There is no stadium in the north with 82,000 seats.”

In another example of the RFU’s success, the England players are set to sign a new four-year wage deal worth close to £22m.