According to the official website of Twickenham Stadium, located in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, this is the largest stadium in the world that is solely dedicated to the rugby union, with a seating capacity of 82,000 spectators. It is also the second largest stadium in the UK after Wembley and the fifth largest in all of Europe. Host to the RFU (Rugby Football Union), it is the home ground of the English national squad and has started hosting a number of other sporting events, including England’s home test matches, the Aviva Premiership final, Heineken Cup matches of Barbarian Football Club and cricket matches of Middlesex Sevens. The 100 year old legacy of this iconic stadium includes playing host to some of the most prominent musicians and artists, such as The Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, The Police, U2, Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Rihanna, Iron Maiden, REM, Eagles and Genesis. If you are travelling to London and want to watch such epic performances or matches, book your hotel near Twickenham rugby stadium today.
History and Legacy of this Stadium
It was in 1907 when committee member William Williams and Treasurer William Cail purchased a 10 and a quarter acre market garden for £5,500. Earlier, this area was used to grow cabbages, which gave the Twickenham Stadium the name “Cabbage Patch.” When it was first constructed, it has a seating capacity of 20,000. In January 1910, it hosted the first international rugby fixture between England and Wales. On your visit to London, a good idea is to look for a hotel near Twickenham rugby stadium, such as Master Robert Hotel, not only for its proximity to the stadium but also for its services. This budget hotel at London Heathrow Airport is located close to the stadium.
Through the years, a score of matches and little events were organised here and in 1959 the combined team of England and Wales, beat Scotland and Ireland, 26 points to 17 to mark 50 years of the stadium’s existence. In 1991, Ireland, France and UK together hosted the 1991 Rugby World Cup, in which this stadium was home to England who lost 6-12 to Australia. Nevertheless, in subsequent years, England enjoyed a run of 19 unbeaten matches between 1999 and 2004, under the reign of Clive Woodward, which gave the stadium the name “Fortress Twickenham.”
Non Sporting Events held in the Past
Although this stadium may exclusively to host rugby fixtures throughout the year, it has in the past been host to a number of non sporting events of the grandest scale. This was primarily due to the construction delays at Wembley, rescheduling events from Wembley to Twickenham. The Big Bang Tour Concert that was originally scheduled at Wembley was moved to Twickenham, in which The Rolling Stone electrified crowds with the raw energy of vocalist Mick Jagger. The Stones took such a liking to the venue that they made two more appearances in August and September 2003, which was soon followed by performances of various new bands and artists in subsequent years. If you are flying in to London, book a budget hotel near London Heathrow Airport, such as Master Robert Hotel, at the earliest for a memorable holiday.
