Saints switch Saracens home Aviva Premiership game to Milton Keynes

The committee are keen to see stadium:mk take on a sizeable rugby fixture before it plays host to World Cup games.

And Saints’ clash with Saracens on Saturday, April 25 appeals as the Northampton club has a history of big attendances at the ground.

Back in 2011, Jim Mallinder’s men played a Heineken Cup quarter-final against Ulster there, attracting a crowd of more than 21,000.

They also drew a large attendance for the subsequent semi-final against Perpignan at the ground, once again claiming a win, which put them in the Heineken Cup final.

The following season Saints switched their pool game against Munster to Milton Keynes, breaking the stadium attendance record, with more than 22,000 people in attendance.

Northampton have also been an away team at the ground, with Saracens hosting them in a Premiership fixture in December, 2012.

That match commanded nearly 19,000 fans.

And Rugby World Cup will hope for more of the same as they bid to prepare stadium:mk to host three group games, with France facing Canada, Samoa playing Japan and Fiji taking on a play-off winner in Milton Keynes.