Twickenham Stadium

Twickenham Stadium stands in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the world’s largest rugby union stadium and England’s national rugby ground. The Rugby Football Union owns the ground and has its headquarters there. The stadium sits on land that was once a market garden growing cabbages, which gave it the nickname the Cabbage Patch. The first match was played in 1909 between Harlequins and Richmond. The first international took place the following year when England played Wales. The stadium hosts England’s home Six Nations matches and games against touring Southern Hemisphere teams. It also stages the Middlesex Sevens, Premiership Rugby finals, and the Varsity Match between Oxford and Cambridge universities. Major finals such as the Anglo-Welsh Cup and European Rugby Champions Cup have been held here. In 2016 and 2017 the stadium hosted NFL London Games. It has welcomed concerts by artists including U2, Beyoncé, the Rolling Stones and Metallica. Visitors find a large stadium with four main stands surrounding the pitch. The ground holds tens of thousands of spectators for major matches. The pitch is surrounded by steep terraces that rise to the top tier. The stadium’s museum and tour routes show memorabilia from England’s rugby history. Outside, the area around the ground is a busy sports hub with club shops and cafes. The atmosphere on match days is shaped by traditions such as the singing of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.