Twickenham set for ticket price hike

The cost of watching England at Twickenham is to go up again, increasing the RFU's gross revenue from next season's six home internationals to around £20million.

The latest hike, approved by the RFU but yet to be officially announced, lifts the price of the most expensive tickets by £5 to £50. Other stand seats will rise to £45 and £40 from £42 and £39.

As a result, takings will rise to more than £3m for every England match at Twickenham next season, starting with the All Blacks in November followed by South Africa and Australia. England will then be at home for Six Nations matches against France, Wales and Scotland.

The Union will argue that its prices are in line with similar events. The Australian Rugby Union has raised the price of its best seats at Sydney's Olympic Stadium to £55 for the Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand on August 3. The most expensive tickets for the Arsenal-Chelsea FA Cup Final were £70.

France have dropped flanker Olivier Magne and restored hooker Raphael Ibanez as captain among seven changes for Saturday's second Test against Australia in Sydney.

England's six clubs in next season's Parker Pen Shield have all been given away ties against unseeded opponents in the two- leg opening round in October.