Rugby Tours 2026 – England A vs Argentina XV – ARN Guide

International rugby returns to the historic Recreation Ground this Friday as a revitalized England Men’s “A” side prepares to lock horns with a formidable Argentina XV in Bath. While this highly anticipated fixture does not carry full senior Test-match status, the high-stakes, uncapped encounter serves as a vital proving ground for the next generation of elite talent.

For the up-and-coming stars representing these two powerhouse rugby nations, the match represents a golden opportunity to showcase their skills on the international stage, build crucial combinations, and stake their claim for higher honors within their respective senior national setups.

Adding an extra layer of intrigue to the rugby schedule, this development clash directly coincides with the Nations Championship showdown between Ireland and Argentina (Los Pumas) on the very same Friday evening.

This simultaneous scheduling creates a fascinating double-header for rugby fans, as the senior battle in Dublin will unfold while their respective shadow squads look to lay the groundwork for future generations in Bath. For the coaching setups of both nations, it offers a unique, real-time look at the immediate depth of their player pools, testing each country’s rugby infrastructure on two distinct international fronts on a single night.

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Score
Feb 6, 2026	vs Ireland XV	Limerick, Ireland	Win	42–14
Jun 19, 2026	vs France A	Vannes, France	Loss	19–35

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Score
Aug 15, 2026	vs USA	Fort Lauderdale, USA	Loss	24–25
Aug 29, 2026	vs Paraguay	Santiago, Chile	Win	58–11
Sep 2, 2026	vs Uruguay XV	Santiago, Chile	Win	64–10
Sep 6, 2026	vs Chile XV	Santiago, Chile	Loss	27–28

– Jamie Blamire (7), Ethan Roots (4), Noah Caluori (2), Luke Northmore (2), George Kloska (2), Max Ojomoh (2), Charlie Atkinson (1), Joe Carpenter (1)

– Pedro Delgado (12), Ignacio Calles (8), Benjamín Grondona (5), Juan Penoucos (2), Nicolás D’Amorim, (1), Santiago Pernas (1), Agustín Sarelli (1)

• The Argentina XV line-up is a combination of domestic players and professionals based in Europe.
• Pedro Delgado and Benjamin Grondona play in England for the Harlequins and Bristol Bears respectively.
• Jack Kenningham (Harlequins), Luke Northmore (Harlequins) and Joe Batley (Bristol Bears), Fitz Harding (Bristol Bears), and George Kloska (Bristol Bears) will be up against club teammates.
• Tobias Wade plays for Zebre Parma in Italy while Ignacio Calles, Gael Galván and Juan Segundo Martín Montilla play in France.
• England and Argentina have a long-lasting history at the senior level with test matches dating back to 1978.
• Next-of-XV competition has been rare. The one match between England A and the Argentina XV was played in Buenos Aires in 2002. The South Americans were 29-24 winners.
• The 2002 match featured the current head coaches of Italy (Gonzalo Quesada) and Spain (Pablo Bouza). They were joined by RWC players including Lucas Ostiglia, Martín Durand, Pedro Sporleder, Mario Ledesma, Roberto Grau, Martín Scelzo, and José María Núñez Piossek, 22. Diego Giannantonio.
• The England side that day included big name players such as Mark Cueto, Hugh Vyvyan, Mark Regan, and Trevor Woodman.

The home side has Jamie Blamire and Ethan Roots as two examples of top-tier pedigree. The line-up combined with home-crowd advantage and a high-flying development pathway, gives England A a distinct tactical and physical edge. However, the Argentina XV should not be underestimated. A key battle area will be the scrum. England A enter as favorites to win at The Rec.

ENGLAND A
1 Archie van der Flier, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Afolabi Fasogbon, 4 Joe Batley, 5 Ben Bamber, 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Jack Kenningham, 8 Fitz Harding, 9 Caolan Englefield, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 11 George Hendy, 12 Max Ojomoh, 13 Luke Northmore, 14 Noah Caluori, 15 Joe Carpenter

Replacements: 16 Nathan Jibulu, 17 Alex O’Driscoll, 18 George Kloska, 19 Tom Lockett, 21 Max Hicks, 22 Lucas Friday, 23 Billy Searle

ARGENTINA XV
1 Diego Correa, 2 Juan Manuel Vivas, 3 Pedro Delgado, 4 Rodrigo Fernández Criado, 5 Enzo Ocampo, 6 Nicolás D’Amorim, 7 Juan Penoucos, 8 Benjamín Grondona, 9 Nicolás Viola, 10 Federico Serpa, 11 Franco Rossetto, 12 Benjamín Ordiz, 13 Agustín Fraga, 14 Santiago Pernas, 15 Tobías Wade

Replacements: 16 Francisco Lusarreta, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Gael Galván, 19 Francisco Sluga, 20 Agustín Sarelli, 21 Alejo Sugasti, 22 Juan Segundo Martín Montilla, 23 Matías Osadczuk

Date: Friday, November 06
Kick-Off: 7:45pm (GB-ENG), 4:45pm (AR)
Venue: Recreational Ground, Bath (GB-ENG)
Broadcast: Disney + (Latin America)
Weather Forecast: Cold and Cloudy. 7°C. Wind NE 5 mph.
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)