Twickenham Stadium, situated in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is the world’s largest rugby union stadium and the spiritual home of English rugby. The Rugby Football Union purchased the site in 1907 for £5,572 — land that had previously served as a market garden growing cabbages, earning the ground its affectionate nickname ‘The Cabbage Patch.’ The first match was played there on 2 October 1909, and the first international, England v Wales, followed on 15 January 1910.
A century of expansion has grown the original 20,000-capacity venue into an 82,000-seat colossus, making it the second-largest stadium in the United Kingdom behind Wembley. Since September 2024 it has carried the official name Allianz Stadium Twickenham after a ten-year naming-rights deal with insurer Allianz, though fans worldwide still call it simply Twickenham. The RFU’s headquarters and the World Rugby Museum are both based on site, cementing its position as the sport’s global landmark.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): England national rugby union team; Harlequins (selected matches)
- Location: Twickenham, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England
- Opened: 2 October 1909
- Capacity: 82,000 (rugby)
- Owner: Rugby Football Union (RFU)
- Naming Sponsor: Allianz (from September 2024)
- World Cup Finals Hosted: 1991, 2015
A History Built on Tradition
The RFU bought the Twickenham market garden for £5,572 in 1907 and constructed the first wooden stands the following year. Successive expansions through the 1920s, 1980s, and 1990s steadily increased capacity, with a final major phase completed between 2005 and 2008 that brought the ground to its current 82,000. Along the way the stadium hosted Rugby World Cup Finals in both 1991 and 2015, as well as key matches during the 1999 tournament.
A broadcasting milestone arrived on 19 March 1938, when the BBC transmitted the England–Scotland Calcutta Cup match live from Twickenham — the first rugby union fixture ever shown on television. That pioneering spirit has continued: the stadium has hosted NFL games and major concerts alongside its core rugby programme, demonstrating a versatility rare among purpose-built sporting venues.
Beyond International Rugby
Twickenham’s size makes it one of the largest concert venues in Europe, with acts ranging from the Rolling Stones to Taylor Swift filling its terraces. The south stand is home to the World Rugby Museum, which draws tens of thousands of visitors annually and chronicles the global history of the sport from its origins to the present day.
Harlequins have played selected home fixtures at the ground since 2008, and the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup saw further matches staged at Twickenham, reflecting the RFU’s investment in the women’s game. With the Allianz naming-rights deal providing long-term commercial backing, the stadium continues to evolve while remaining unmistakably the beating heart of English rugby.
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Twickenham Stadium FAQs
What is Twickenham Stadium’s seating capacity?
Twickenham Stadium holds 82,000 spectators for rugby union, making it the world’s largest rugby union stadium and the second-largest venue in the United Kingdom after Wembley Stadium.
Why is Twickenham Stadium nicknamed ‘The Cabbage Patch’?
Before the RFU purchased the site in 1907, the land was a market garden where cabbages and other vegetables were grown. The nickname has been used affectionately by rugby fans ever since.
Has Twickenham Stadium been renamed?
Yes. In September 2024 the RFU signed a ten-year naming-rights agreement with insurer Allianz, and the ground is now officially known as Allianz Stadium Twickenham, though it is still widely referred to simply as Twickenham.
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Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/t_abdelmoumen Tijani59 / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.