Stage of Twickenham

The stage of Twickenham , usually called Twickenham or Twickers , is an enclosure dedicated to the Rugby with XV. Located in Twickenham, in the south-west of London, it is an arena of: 82000 places.

The stage is the seat of the English federation of Rugby with XV, the R.F.U., it is used by the team of England of Rugby to XV for its Test match S and also for the finale of the Championnat of England of Rugby to XV and of the matches of Coupe of Europe of Rugby. Although it is dedicated primarily to Rugby with XV, the stage was also used for concerts of groups of Rock such as The Eagles, the Rolling Stones, U2 and The Police.

History

The R.F.U bought a ground with Twickenham in 1907 and built a first platform in 1908, before this ground was used for the cabbage culture. The first disputed match with Twickenham opposes the Harlequins to Richmond F.C., the October 2nd 1909 and the first international match takes place the January 15th 1910 between the teams of England and the Wales. The stage has a capacity then of: 20000 places.

To mark the fiftieth anniversary of the stage, in 1959, a team common to England and Wales beats a team common to the Irande and the Scotland (26-17).

The March 19th 1988, at the time of a match between the England and the Ireland, the English lose 0-3 at the half-time then take the advantage in second half-time by marking several tests. The English supporters then sing spontaneously Swing Low, Sweet Chariot after the third test. It became since the song of encouragement of the English supporters of Rugby.

Several matches of the world cup 1991 were disputed with Twickenham, three matches of hen of qualification to which belongbelonged England and especially the final which is gained by the Australia at the expense of the English (12-6).

Twickenham also has was retained for matches of the world cup 1999 organized by Wales. England disputes there its three matches of hen and a match of stopping against the team of Fiji, then Twickenham is the theater of the two semi-finals.

When Clive Woodward is with the head of the English team, Twickenham is a true fortress for its adversaries because the English then dispute there 19 consecutive meetings without defeat (October 1999 in March 2004).

The March 5th 2005, the International Rugby Board organizes a match of support for the victims of the tsunami of December 2004. The match opposes teams representing the northern Hemisphere and southern.

Installations of the stage

Since the purchase of the ground in 1907, the stage is the object of several installations with as of 1921 the construction of a Northern platform then in 1927 the extension of the platform Is to carry the capacity of the stage to: 12000 places. The Southern platform in then modified to increase the capacity of Twickenham with: 20000 places and the Western platform is in its turn arranged in 1932.

The Southern platform must be prohibited to the spectators because of defects in his structure, it is rebuilt beginning of the year 1980 in the middle of the years 1990. After new work engaged in 1992 and completed in 1995, the capacity of the stage is carried to: 75000 sitted places.

An ultimate extension of the stage is already envisaged with the repair of the southern platform, thus carrying the capacity of the stage in 82.000 places.

For its first match in this renovated enclosure, the November 5th 2006, the XV of the Rose inclines 20-41 vis-a-vis the All Blacks.

Other uses of the stage

Although Twickenham is primarily used for meetings of Rugby to XV, other sporting events proceeded there. In 2000, a match of Rugby to XIII opposed the Australia to the England within the framework of the World cup of Rugby to XIII.

Because of the building work of the Wembley Stadium, several demonstrations are transferred from Wembley to Twickenham. It is the case in particular in concerts of the Rolling Stones (one in the concerts gives place to a recording which one finds on the DVD Four Flicks ).

Twickenham is also the seat of a museum which recalls all the history of Rugby, one can see in particular a shirt carried at the time of the first match of Rugby disputed in 1871 between England and Scotland.

Notes & references

External bonds

South Stand progress photographs
Twickenham Stadium, on worldstadiums.com
SGL Concept

Random links: