Philadelphia to host Aviva Premiership match

The Aviva Premiership is returning to the USA in September. Philadelphia’s Talen Energy Stadium will host two-time defending European champions Saracens and the rapid-rising Newcastle Falcons in a full-on regular season match on September 16 of this year. This will be the second time the Premiership has staged a match on US soil, the first coming in March of last year when Saracens and London Irish put on a show at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.

Saracens feature numerous internationals including former Eagles captain Chris Wyles and current USA prop Titi Lamositele. Six of their England stars have been selected to take part on the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. Newcastle meanwhile have enjoyed their best season in more than a decade and currently have two locks set to take part in the Americas 1 qualification series with Nick Civetta to play for the USA and Evan Olmstead for Canada. Exciting new signings for next season include Canadian winger DTH van der Merwe, France centre Maxime Mermoz, and two-time England World Cup flyhalf Toby Flood.

Talen Energy Stadium, formerly known as PPL Park, is the home of Major League Soccer franchise Philadelphia Union. It is also the venue of the annual Collegiate Rugby Championship sevens tournament and has previously hosted US Eagles matches against the New Zealand Māori in 2013 and Premiership club Harlequins in 2015. The seating capacity is 18,500 and the playing surface is Bermuda grass.