mens
international
International rugby returns to Bath and will be hosted by The Recreation Ground England A vs Argentina XV on Friday 6 November kicks off at 19:45 (GMT).
It will be the first meeting of the development parties of each union since 2009 and the third overall. England ‘A’ previously beat Argentina ‘A’ 22-17 at Franklin’s Gardens in December 1996 and again at the Churchill Cup in Colorado in June 2009 (28-20).
Argentina XV they are currently licking their wounds after losing their Americas Rugby Championship crown for Chile on weekends.
From reintroduction in 2024. England A they played six games, with five wins and a loss. That loss was 12 months ago in England A’s only previous outing at The Rec, with All black people XV wins 31-14.
Since then, head coach Mark Mapletoft has guided the team to back-to-back road wins Spain and Ireland XV.
With a mix of senior internationals and young talent from Gallagher PREM, England A is seen as a vital step in the development of England rugby.
Of those who represented the ‘A’ team in the 2025/26 season, Noah Caluori, Emmanuel Iyogun and George Kloska made their senior debuts for England this summer.
“Facing the Argentina XV for the first time is a brilliant challenge for our players and staff and an opportunity to test ourselves against quality opposition from the start of the season,” said Mapletoft.
“There is always a special sense of enjoyment and occasion when you run out under the lights on a Friday night and facilities like this are a fantastic platform for players to showcase their talent and pride in wearing the England shirt.
“The depth and quality of the England pathway and PREM Rugby continues to grow, so there is real excitement about the squad we can select and the opportunities these games provide for players to take another step forward on their England pathway.”