Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, will host England v Argentina in June © Getty Images

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England will face off against Argentina at Old Trafford on June 6 in the first Test of a two-game series this summer, with the second Test taking place in Argentina on June 13.

The game has been arranged at the 76,000 seat Old Trafford, the home of English Premier League champions Manchester United, in order to help the Pumas with some much-needed funds to invest in squads and their domestic game. The game will be the first international staged in Manchester since New Zealand defeated England 25-8 in 1997 and RFU boss Francis Baron is expecting a big reaction from the area.

"We received a request from the Argentinean Rugby Union to play one of the tests in England to generate funds to invest in their squads," he said. "We are delighted to have been able to help them by securing Old Trafford, one of the most famous football stadiums in the world, and our thanks go to Manchester City Council, the NWDA and Old Trafford itself.

"Rugby Union is thriving in the North West and this is a great opportunity for us to play a match away from Twickenham and aid the development of the game in the region. Tickets will be competitively priced and we are looking forward to a great occasion."

England will then travel to Argentina for the second Test, no doubt hoping to blood some younger players as the British and Irish Lions tour progresses in South Africa. Argentina will receive vital funds to re-invest in their, still resolutely amateur, game.

"We are really happy with the agreement with the Rugby Football Union to play the first Test match in Manchester," said Ricardo Garcia Fernández, Chairman of the Professional Rugby Board of the Union Argentina de Rugby. Those extra funds we will get for playing there allow us to continue investing in our local development programmes.

"Regarding the second Test to be played on June 13 in Argentina, we will know the venue at the end of February after having concluded the diligences with those local unions that have applied for hosting this Test match."

Manchester United chief excutive David Gill was also delighted with the opportunity to hos the England national team. "We are delighted that Old Trafford has been chosen to host this international fixture," he said. "It underlines the stadium as one of the premier venues in world sport, and we look forward to welcoming both teams to the Theatre of Dreams."