Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium will host its first major international Rugby League fixture when the 2004 European Nations Cup Final is staged there on Sunday, November 7 (Kick off 1.45pm).

The Cheshire stadium, which has already provided facilities for one of this year's Powergen Challenge Cup semi-finals, will now become the focal point for this year's six-nation tournament.

And, thousands of armchair sports fans will also get a chance to see the big Euro final as it will be broadcast live by SkySports.

The tournament will employ the same format as last year with two pools of three nations and the two pool winners qualifying for the Final.

Following the success of last year's inaugural European Nations Cup tournament, the 2004 version is being taken to an even wider audience.

The fast-improving Russian Rugby League, who play in Pool Two with both England and France, stage both of their pool matches in Moscow.

They will face France at Moscow's Olympic Stadium on Saturday, October 16 and then meet England in the same stadium eight days later on Sunday, October 24.

Last year's winners England complete a European tour by playing France in Avignon on Saturday, October 30.

The first pool of three nations brings League's Celtic neighbours Ireland, Scotland and Wales into confrontation.

Wales will face Ireland at Aberavon on Sunday, October 17; Scotland entertain Wales at Glasgow Hawks RUFC on Sunday, October 24 and Ireland will be at home to Scotland at Navan RFC on Friday, October 29.

Richard Lewis, the deputy chairman of Rugby League's European Federation and Executive Chairman of the Rugby Football League, said: "The staging of the European Nations Cup is part of our commitment to the development of the international game.

"It provides an ideal pathway for players with international ambitions and, at the same time, an opportunity for developing nations to progress within League's international community".

The full fixture list for the 2004 European Nations Cup is:

16 October Russia v France, Moscow Olympic Stadium (ko 3.00pm, Russian time)
17 October Wales v Ireland, Aberavon RUFC (ko 2.30pm)
24 October Russia v England, Moscow Olympic Stadium (ko 3.00pm, Russian time)
24 October Scotland v Wales, Glasgow Hawks RFC (ko 3.00pm)
29 October Ireland v Scotland, Navan RFC (ko 7.30pm)
30 October France v England, Avignon (ko 8.00pm French time)
7 November European Nations Cup Final at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington (ko 1.45pm)