INTERNATIONAL rugby will return to Darlington next year, with Darlington Mowden Park's Northern Echo Arena set to host England Under-20s.

The RFU have released the fixture list for England Under-20s' Six Nations matches, with home games scheduled for Exeter, Darlington and Northampton.

The game at the Northern Echo Arena will see England Under-20s host Italy on Friday, February 24 (7.45pm).

Tickets will be available via Darlington Mowden Park's ticket line (01325 350267) from Thursday, December 1.

The tournament schedule replicates the senior teams, with England kicking off the Championship against France at Sandy Park in Exeter on Saturday, February 4.

An away fixture against defending champions and Grand Slam winners Wales follows, before England head to Darlington to take on Italy.

England’s penultimate game of the tournament will be against Scotland on Saturday, March 11 at Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, with the side due to finish their campaign in Ireland.

All of the home England Under-20s' Six Nations fixtures will be shown live on Sky Sports.

England Under-20s coach Rory Teague said: "We have a lot of hard work to put in from now until February and it’s important we make sure the squad are aware and prepared for the intensity that is required of them at this level. The opportunity to represent your country in a special competition like the Six Nations is a real honour for any player.

"The support we receive wherever we play across the country is fantastic and these different environments and new grounds allow us to challenge the players in a number of ways.

"It will be a special occasion playing at Sandy Park for the first time as England U20 and an excellent crowd can always be expected in Northampton. We received brilliant support in Newcastle last year and I’m sure it will be the same in Darlington, it is great that England U20 can play there again."

England U20 Six Nations fixtures:

England v France: Saturday 4th February – Sandy Park, Exeter (KO 12:00pm)

Wales v England: Friday 10th February - Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay (KO 7:15pm)

England v Italy: Friday 24th February – Darlington Mowden Park (KO 7:45pm)

(Tickets will be available from Thursday 1st December via the Darlington Mowden Park ticket line: 01325 350267)

England v Scotland: Saturday 11th March - Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton (KO 6:15pm)

Ireland v England: Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin. Date and time TBC