England to stage 2007 Churchill Cup

The Rugby Football Union have confirmed that England will host next summer's Barclays Churchill Cup.

The tournament has been held in the USA and Canada over the last five years but moves to England on a one-off basis.

It will feature the same six teams - England Saxons, Scotland and Ireland A, the USA, Canada and defending champions New Zealand Maori - and kicks off on May 19, with the final on June 3.

The RFU have yet to confirm the venues but it is understood Worcester, Leicester, Reading, Exeter and Richmond are all in the frame.

The Churchill Cup, which is the RFU-led initiative designed to assist the development of rugby in north America, will then return to the USA in 2008.

Tournament director Terry Burwell explained: "The Rugby World Cup in France in September 2007 gives us a great opportunity to host the tournament for the first time in England.

"The main aim to help prepare players for the World Cup and reduce the amount of travelling teams have to do in the months leading up to September.

"With the exception of the New Zealand Maori, the majority of the squads from five of the six participating teams are playing in the UK.

"It makes sense from a player welfare point of view for the tournament to be held in England for this one-off year."

The staging of last year's tournament was split between Canada and the USA, with the final held at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium.