ILKLEY Rugby Club is staging an international match this Saturday.

Stacks Field will host the clash between England Deaf and Wales Deaf.

It is an honour for the North Premier League club who are looking forward to the big day.

Head of rugby Rhys Morgan said: “It is a big occasion and it promises to be a very competitive game.

“We are thrilled to have been asked to put this game on and we want to show to a wider audience what Ilkley has to offer.”

Morgan’s working relationship with England Deaf’s coach Sean Fletcher was key to the Dalesmen being allocated the fixture.

The two men work together coaching the England Police squad.

“During our conversations the idea of Ilkley staging an England Deaf international was mooted,” said Morgan.

“It is a big honour and it will be a big day. There is a lunch before the game for guests and a dinner for the players afterwards.

“We hope that people from the area will come along and watch. The game is kicking off at 1pm so that people can stay and watch Ireland v Wales and Scotland v England on TV in the clubhouse.”

Morgan’s Ilkley players were handed an unexpected two-week break from action when last Saturday’s home game with Wirral was called off.

Ilkley already had a blank date this weekend and Morgan admitted that the events of last week had come as a complete surprise.

“I suddenly got a phone call from our groundsman on Saturday morning to say there had been a sudden downpour and the pitch was waterlogged.

“There was surface water in all areas of the pitch so there was no way we could play,” Morgan said.

The break from action means the players should be refreshed when they tackle league leaders Preston Grasshoppers on their artificial pitch next week.

One player who will be fit to return to action will be skipper Elliot Morgan who picked up a knock in the hard-earned win over Lymm.

lAdmission to England Deaf v Wales Deaf is £5 for adults. Under-16s free.