INTERNATIONAL rugby will return to the North-East next March when Kingston Park hosts an Under-20 international between England and Wales.

The two home nations will meet at the home of Newcastle Falcons on Friday, March 7 (7.45pm) as part of this season’s Under-20s Six Nations Championship.

The game is a repeat of June’s IRB Junior World Championship final, which England won 23-15.

Falcons duo Dom Barrow and Scott Wilson played in that fixture, and the latter is likely to feature in the rematch next spring.

Barrow, who has taken the Aviva Premiership by storm this season, is no longer eligible for the Under-20s, but the versatile forward is predicting an explosive encounter.

“England versus Wales games are always fiery, physical encounters and there is no love lost between the two countries, so it promises to be a great night,” said Barrow, who joined Falcons from Leeds Carnegie during the summer.

“I’ve got fond memories of my time in the England Under-20s set-up, particularly the feeling of elation when we became world champions. It meant a lot to me when I pulled on the white jersey, and you’ll see what it means to the guys when both sides go head to head next year.”

Ticket details for the game will be released in due course.