Twickenham Stadium, often known as just Twickenham, is a multi-purpose stadium located in London, England. It is used mostly for rugby union matches, hosting the home games of the England national rugby union team, its owner.
Opened on 2 October 1909 with a match between Harlequins and Richmond, it replaced the original Twickenham Stadium, which had 20,000 seats. The seating capacity of the new stadium is currently set at 82,000. The stadium was designed by John Bradley and had a construction cost of £2.5 million.
A RFU category four stadium and one of the biggest stadiums by capacity in Europe (the biggest in the United Kingdom), Twickenham Stadium hosted several matches of the Rugby World Cup including the 1991, 1999, and 2015 finals, as well as the 2021 finals of the European Rugby Champions Cup. It was elected the most beautiful stadium of Europe in a 2015 online poll by L'Équipe. By its hundred and tenth birthday, Twickenham Stadium had welcomed more than 40 million spectators. The stadium is one of the potential venues for the 2031 Rugby World Cup, which England hopes to host.
While the previous Twickenham stadium was also officially named 'Twickenham Stadium', both the old and the new stadia are invariably referred to by their official name, Twickenham. Twickenham is the name of the borough the stadium was built on, located in the southwestern parts of London, deriving its name from its historic roots going back to the Tudor times. This official name stuck on soon after the original stadium's construction; the people of London used to simply call it Twickenham. Therefore, the stadium's common name became 'Twickenham', which is also recognized worldwide as 'The Home of England Rugby'. The term Twickenham doesn't have a specific translation, but it's a name that carries a rich history and a strong sense of national pride. Located on Whitton Road, the stadium has been synonymous with rugby and has hosted some of the most significant events in the sport's history.
Twickenham Stadium, as it is officially known, was built in 1907 by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) for the purpose of hosting rugby matches. The stadium was constructed on a 10.25-hectare (25.3-acre) site, purchased for just over £5,500. Initially, the stadium had a simple design with a single stand but over the years, the stadium has undergone numerous renovations and expansions, transforming it into the iconic sporting venue it is today. The stadium now boasts a seating capacity of 82,000, making it the largest dedicated rugby union venue in the world.
One of the most significant developments in the stadium's history was the construction of the South Stand, completed in 2008. This monumental structure is the largest of all the stands and includes a hotel, a performing arts complex, and a health and leisure club. The completion of the South Stand marked the end of a comprehensive redevelopment program that began in the 1990s, transforming Twickenham into a state-of-the-art sporting venue.
Over the years, Twickenham has played host to numerous significant sporting events, including the Rugby World Cup finals in 1991 and 2015, the Rugby League Challenge Cup finals, and the American National Football League (NFL) games. In addition to sporting events, Twickenham has also been a popular venue for concerts, hosting performances by world-renowned artists such as The Rolling Stones, U2, and Rihanna.
Twickenham Stadium is not just a sporting venue, but it's also a symbol of national pride and an important part of England's sporting heritage. It's a place where history has been written, and great sporting moments have been witnessed. Its iconic status ensures that the name Twickenham will forever be synonymous with rugby and the sporting history of England.
An appropriate site, with excellent accessibility and ample space for future expansion, was identified in the southwest end of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Being located between the towns of Twickenham and Whitton, the new stadium was initially known as 'Twickenham Stadium'.
It was always the objective of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to own both the stadium and the grounds, though initially, a lease was made on the municipal grounds, with a final buy-out occurring only in 1909. The plans for the sports complex had been sketched as early as the late 1890s by William Williams, a former player for the RFU.
Driven by the RFU's president, Gilbert Jessop, the members coped with an increased fee for supporting the building costs for the new stadium, offered large donations, and some even went as far as to work themselves on the building site on holidays or weekends. There was even a 'brick campaign', whereby large quantities of bricks were offered to the RFU.
The works officially started on 2 October 1907. Less than two years after, and at a cost of £5,500, on 15 October 1909 (a national holiday), a 20,000-capacity crowd filled the stadium for the inaugural match against rivals Richmond FC.
Over the years, Twickenham Stadium has undergone renovations and expansions, making it one of the largest dedicated rugby union venues in the world. It now boasts a seating capacity of 82,000, a state-of-the-art gym, a world-class players’ tunnel, and a high-tech media centre for global broadcast.
The stadium is not just a venue for rugby matches but also hosts music concerts, NFL games, and other sporting events. It has a museum called the World Rugby Museum, which offers an insight into the history of the sport.
Twickenham Stadium is a symbol of pride for the RFU and remains one of the most iconic rugby venues in the world. Its structure and facilities reflect the rich history of the sport and its commitment to providing the best experience for players and spectators alike.
'Twickenham Stadium (1909)' (in English). England Rugby. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2015. http://www.englandrugby.com/
'Twickenham (The Cabbage Patch) – until 2003'. StadiumDB.com. Retrieved 7 February 2015. http://www.stadiumdb.com/
'Twickenham never fades', Preface, Prime Books, 2003 (ISBN 972-8820-07-0). http://www.primebooks.net/
'England Rugby 100 glorious years - The History 1', Edition and Contents, S.A., 2003 (ISBN 989-554-099-X). http://www.englandrugby.com/history
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