View source for Twickenham Stadium

{{Short description|Stadium in London, England}}
{{Distinguish|Twickenham Stoop}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
| name             = Twickenham Stadium<br /><small>Allianz Stadium Twickenham</small>
| nickname         = ''Billy Williams' Cabbage Patch''<ref name="Cabbage Patch">{{cite web |title=The Rugby ground : The Twickenham Museum |url=http://www.twickenham-museum.org.uk/kids_detail.asp?ContentID=225 |website=twickenham-museum.org.uk |access-date=15 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622023332/http://www.twickenham-museum.org.uk/kids_detail.asp?ContentID=225 |archive-date=22 June 2011 }}</ref><br>''The Cabbage Patch''<br>''Twickers''<br>''Headquarters''<br>''HQ''<br>''The Big Stoop''
| logo_image       = Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (2024) Logo.svg
| logo_size        = 250
| image            = Stade de Twickenham à Londres.jpg
| caption          = Aerial view of Twickenham Stadium
| fullname         = 
| former_names     = 
| address          = 200 Whitton Road<br>[[Twickenham]]<br>TW2 7BA<ref>{{cite web|title=Rugby Football Union – Contact us|url=https://www.englandrugby.com/about-rfu/contact-the-rfu |work=[[Rugby Football Union|England Rugby]] |access-date=23 January 2020}}</ref>
| location         = [[London]], England
| coordinates      = {{coord|51|27|21|N|0|20|29|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| built            = {{Start date and age|1907}}
| opened           = {{Start date and age|1909|10|02|df=yes}}
| renovated        = 2005–2008
| owner            = [[RFU]]
| operator         = 
| surface          = [[GrassMaster|Desso GrassMaster]]
| tenants          = [[England national rugby union team]] <br /> [[Harlequins F.C.|Harlequins]] (2008–present; selected matches) <br /> [[Bath Rugby]] (2017–2019, selected matches)
| architect        = John Bradley
| seating_capacity = 82,000 (rugby)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandrugby.com/twickenham |title=Twickenham Stadium |work=[[Rugby Football Union|England Rugby]] |access-date=7 January 2014 }}</ref><br>75,000 (American football)<br>55,000 (concerts; limited)
| dimensions       = 125 m × 70 m
| public_transit   = {{rail-interchange|gb|Rail}} {{rws|Twickenham}}
| suites           = 150
| website          = {{URL|https://www.allianzstadiumtwickenham.com|allianzstadiumtwickenham.com}}
}}
'''Twickenham Stadium''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|w|ɪ|k|ən|əm}}; usually known as '''Twickenham''', and for sponsorship purposes known as the '''[[Allianz]] Stadium Twickenham''') is a [[rugby union]] stadium in [[Twickenham]], London, England. It is owned by the [[Rugby Football Union]] (RFU), the English rugby union governing body, which has its headquarters there. The stadium is England's [[List of national stadiums|national rugby union stadium]] and is the venue for the [[England national rugby union team]]'s home matches.

Twickenham is the world's largest rugby union stadium, the second largest stadium in the United Kingdom (behind [[Wembley Stadium]]), and the [[List of European stadia by capacity|fourth largest in Europe]]. The [[Middlesex Sevens]], [[Premiership Rugby]] fixtures, [[Anglo-Welsh Cup]] matches, [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]]' annual [[The Big Game (rugby union)|Big Game]], the [[The Varsity Match|Varsity Match]] between [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] and [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] universities and [[European Rugby Champions Cup]] games have been played there. It has also been used as the venue for the [[Rugby Football League]]'s [[Challenge Cup]] Final in 2001 and 2006, and the [[NFL International Series|NFL London Games]] in 2016 and 2017.

The stadium has hosted concerts by artists such as [[Rihanna]], [[Iron Maiden]], [[Bryan Adams]], [[Bon Jovi]], [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]], [[U2]], [[Beyoncé]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[the Police]], [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]], [[R.E.M.]], [[Eminem]], [[Lady Gaga]], [[Metallica]], [[Depeche Mode]] and NSPPD Prayer Conference.

On 5 August 2024, it was announced that Twickenham Stadium would be renamed Allianz Stadium Twickenham as part of a long-term investment plan by the insurance company [[Allianz]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 August 2024 |title=Allianz pledges long-term commitment to rugby through a multi-year partnership with the Rugby Football Union |url=https://www.twickenhamstadium.com/news/stadium/allianz-pledges-long-term-commitment-to-rugby-through-a-multi-year-partnership-with-the-rugby-football-union |access-date=7 August 2024 |website=twickenhamstadium.com }}</ref>

==Overview==
Twickenham is often referred to as "the Home of Rugby".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rfu.com/microsites/twickenham/index.cfm?StoryID=14605 |title=Home of Rugby to host cycling charity challenge |date=8 September 2006 |work=[[Rugby Football Union|RFU]] press office |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202163349/http://www.rfu.com/microsites/twickenham/index.cfm?StoryID=14605 |archive-date=2 February 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The stadium, owned and operated by the RFU, hosts rugby union fixtures all year round. It is the home of the English rugby union team, who play nearly all their home games at the stadium. Twickenham hosts England's home [[Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]] matches, as well as games against touring teams from the Southern Hemisphere, usually annually in November.

Apart from its relationship with the national team, Twickenham is the venue for a number of other domestic and international rugby union matches. It hosts the annual [[London Sevens|London leg]] of the [[World Rugby Sevens Series]], the Cup (championship) final, the third-place match of the annual [[London Women's Sevens|London leg]] of the [[World Rugby Women's Sevens Series]], and the domestic [[Middlesex Sevens]] competition. It is also the venue for the [[Premiership Rugby]] final as well as [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]]' [[The Big Game (rugby)|Big Game]] at Christmas time and an additional annual fixture hosted by Harlequins in late spring.<ref>Harlequins RFC website - https://www.quins.co.uk/big-game</ref> [[Anglo-Welsh Cup]], [[Heineken Cup]] and [[European Rugby Champions Cup|Champions Cup]] finals have been held here, and the stadium also hosts [[The Varsity Match]] between [[Oxford University RFC|Oxford]] and [[Cambridge University R.U.F.C.|Cambridge]] (1921–2023), the English schools' [[Daily Mail Cup]] Final and the [[Army Navy Match]], which forms the culmination of the annual Inter-Services Competition.

===Regular events===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Event
!Approximate dates
|-
|[[England rugby union team]] home games of [[Six Nations Championship]]
|February and March
|-
|One [[England women's national rugby union team|England women's rugby union team]] home games of [[Women's Six Nations Championship]]
|March and April
|-
|[[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequin's]] Big Summer Kick-off
|Early May
|-
|[[Army Navy Match]]
|Mid May
|-
|[[Premiership Rugby]] Final
|Late May or June
|-
|[[England rugby union team]] games of the [[Autumn rugby union internationals|Autumn internationals]]
|October and November
|-
|[[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequin's]] [[The Big Game (rugby union)|Big Game]]
|Late December
|}

==History==
Sold-out Tests against [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] and [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] at [[Crystal Palace National Sports Centre|Crystal Palace]] saw the RFU realise the benefit of owning their own ground. Committee member [[Billy Williams (cricketer, born 1861)|William Williams]] and treasurer [[William Cail]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.20thcenturylondon.org.uk/server.php?show=ConInformationRecord.448 |title=Cail, William |website=20thcenturylondon.org.uk |publisher=Renaissance London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104052012/http://www.20thcenturylondon.org.uk/cail-william |archive-date=4 November 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=24 January 2020}}</ref> led the way to purchasing a 10.25 acre (4 hectare) market garden in Twickenham in 1907 for [[Pound sterling|£]]5,500 12s 6d. The first stands were constructed the following year. Before the ground was purchased, it was used to grow, among other vegetables, cabbages, and so Twickenham Stadium is affectionately known as the Cabbage Patch. After further expenditure on roads, the first game, between [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]] v. [[Richmond F.C.|Richmond]], was played on 2 October 1909, and the first international, [[England national rugby union team|England]] v. [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]], on 15 January 1910. At the time of the England-Wales game, the stadium had a maximum capacity of 20,000 spectators. During World War I, the ground was used for cattle, horse and sheep grazing. [[George V of the United Kingdom|King George V]] unveiled a war memorial in 1921.

[[File:Starting-An-Attack-.jpg|left|thumb|''Starting an Attack'', painting of the England v Wales rugby union match at Twickenham in 1931]]
In 1926, the first [[Middlesex Sevens]] took place at the ground. In 1927 the first [[The Varsity Match|Varsity Match]] took place at Twickenham for the first time. On 19 March 1938, [[BBC Television]] broadcast the England{{snd}}Scotland ([[Calcutta Cup]]) match from Twickenham, the first time that a rugby match was shown live on television.<ref>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.radiotimesarchive.co.uk/pdf/RT-TV-1938.pdf
|journal=[[Radio Times]]
|title=TELEVISION – Monday, March 14 to Saturday, March 19
|date=11 March 1938
|access-date=21 February 2016 }}</ref> In 1959, to mark 50 years of the ground, a combined side of England and Wales beat [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] and [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] by 26 points to 17.

Coming into the last match of the 1988 season, England had lost 15 of their previous 23 matches in the Five Nations Championship. The Twickenham crowd had only seen one England try in the previous two years, and at half-time the team were 0–3 down against Ireland. During the second half, England started playing an expansive game many had doubted they were capable of producing. A 0–3 deficit was turned into a 35–3 win, with England scoring six tries. This day also saw the origins of the adoption of the traditional spiritual "[[Swing Low, Sweet Chariot]]" as a terrace song. Three of England's tries in the match were scored by [[Chris Oti]], a black player who had made a reputation for himself that season as speedy left winger. A group of boys from the [[Benedictine]] school [[Douai School|Douai]], following a tradition at their school games, sang "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" whenever a try was scored. When Oti scored his second try, amused spectators standing close to the boys joined in, and when Oti scored his [[hat-trick]] the song was heard around the ground.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/feb/05/rugbyunion.features|title=Blood, mud and aftershave|date=5 February 2006|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|quote=O is for Oti}}</ref><ref name="SwingLow2">{{cite web|title=The story behind "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" and how it became a rugby anthem|url=http://www.everyhit.com/stories/swing_low_sweet_chariot.html|website=everyhit.com|access-date=8 October 2007}}</ref> Since then "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" has been a song to sing at England home games,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7049496.stm|title=All you need to know about rugby: Rugby songs and jokes|date=19 October 2007|first=Tom|last=Geoghegan|work=[[BBC News Online#Magazine|BBC News Magazine]]}}</ref> in the same way that ''[[Fields of Athenry]]'' is sung in [[Dublin]] and ''[[Cwm Rhondda]]'' is sung in [[Cardiff]].

The United Kingdom, Ireland and France shared the hosting of the [[1991 Rugby World Cup]]. Twickenham was used during [[1991 Rugby World Cup#Pool A|pool A]] England matches. Twickenham was also host of the [[1991 Rugby World Cup Final]] in which [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] beat England 12–6. For this game, England changed their style of play, opting for the sort of running game that had brought them victory against Ireland in the March 1988 game referred to above. During this match, with the English facing a 12–3 deficit, [[David Campese]] reached one-handed for a ball thrown to England winger, [[Rory Underwood]]. He dropped it and the ball rolled forward, gifting England a penalty that proved to be the last score of the game. Some have claimed that Campese's action should have been interpreted as a deliberate professional foul, with possible disciplinary action against the Australian player. However, on the same ground in November 1988, Campese had intercepted a similar pass and run the length of the field to score a try.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |work=[[BBC Sport]] |title=1991: Wallabies pip England |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/history/2960338.stm|access-date=19 August 2006|date=24 September 2003}}</ref>

[[File:Twickenham Stadium - May 2012.jpg|thumb|right|The interior of Twickenham Stadium in 2012]]
Some of the Welsh-hosted [[1999 Rugby World Cup]] games were taken to Twickenham. These included three of England's [[1999 Rugby World Cup#Pool B|pool B]] matches, the second round playoff when England defeated [[Fiji national rugby union team|Fiji]] 45 points to 24, and both semi-finals, none of which England were involved in, having made their exit in the quarter-finals at the hands of [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]. Under the reign of [[Clive Woodward]], the stadium became known as 'Fortress Twickenham', as England enjoyed a run of 19 unbeaten home matches from October 1999, ending with defeat against Ireland in 2004. The [[IRB Rugby Aid Match]] was played on 5 March 2005 under the auspices of the [[International Rugby Board]] (IRB) to raise money for the United Nations [[World Food Programme]] to support its work helping victims of the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|2004 Indian Ocean tsunami]]. The match was between representative sides of the Northern and Southern hemispheres, with the Southern side winning 54–19.

In 2008, [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]] once again became tenants at Twickenham for selected matches including the annual [[The Big Game (rugby union)|Big Game]] fixture usually hosted in late December each year. In 2022, the club launched a second annual fixture at the ground hosted each summer annually known as [[The Big Summer Kick Off]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Henson |first1=Mike |title=Eagles, ice & pyro - inside rugby's biggest show |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cn8gxyx69d1o |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref>

In May 2023 during the 2023 Premiership Rugby Final between [[Sale Sharks]] and [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] a group of Just Stop Oil protesters came onto the pitch and started to vandalise the surface. Some of the players helped security staff to remove the protestors, who were later arrested.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/27/just-stop-oil-protesters-invade-pitch-and-stop-play-at-twickenham-rugby-final |title=Just Stop Oil protesters invade pitch and stop play at Twickenham rugby final |newspaper=The Guardian |date=27 May 2023 |last1=Badshah |first1=Nadeem }}</ref>

On 5 August 2024, Twickenham Stadium announced that the stadium would be renamed to the Allianz Stadium Twickenham for 10 years from September 2024, due to a sponsorship agreement with [[Allianz]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 August 2024 |title=Twickenham: Home of England rugby to be renamed in sponsorship deal |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/cd9dd2xyx2ko |access-date=5 August 2024 |website=BBC Sport }}</ref>

==Redevelopment==
{{Multiple image|direction=vertical|align=right
|total_width=200
|image1=Twickenham rfu.jpg
|caption1=The South Stand before redevelopment, April 2004
|image2=Twickers.JPG
|caption2=The South Stand during redevelopment
|image3=Twickehnam Pitch.jpg
|caption3=The South Stand after redevelopment, April 2008
}}
Since the ground's purchase by the RFU in 1907, it has gone through a number of redevelopments. In 1921, a stand was built above the northern terrace, with workshops placed underneath. In 1927, the East Stand was extended, bringing the capacity to 12,000. The south terrace was later extended to enable crowds of 20,000. In 1932, a new West Stand was completed, providing offices for the RFU, who made the ground their home. In 1937, [[Middlesex]] County Council approved a scheme submitted by Twickenham Borough Council to widen Rugby Road due to it being inadequate for traffic.

In 1965, the South Terrace was closed due to structural failings. It was found to be cheaper to build a new stand than to repair the existing one; however, planning permission was refused, due to objections from local residents. Permission was eventually granted in 1978. A period of extensive rebuilding took place during the early 1980s, which continued through to the mid-1990s. In 1981, the South Terrace was rebuilt as the South Stand. After being taken down in 1989, an extended North Stand was opened in 1990, having been designed by Husband & Co, and built by Mowlem. Following the 1992 Five Nations, the stadium saw the development of the new East Stand and subsequently the West Stand, to essentially the same design as the North Stand. In 1995, the stadium redevelopment was completed, the ground now accommodating 75,000 people in an all-seater environment. The North, East and West stands were all built by [[Mowlem]].<ref name=newsteel>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsteelconstruction.com/wp/steel-conversion-for-twickenham/|title=Steel conversion for Twickenham|date=1 September 2006|publisher=New Steel Construction|access-date=20 January 2018}}</ref>
Planning permission was sought in 2002 and received in December 2004 for a new South Stand to further raise capacity, with building work commencing in June 2005. As well as increasing the stadium's capacity to 82,000, the redevelopment introduced a four-star [[Marriott International|Marriott]] hotel with 156 rooms and six VIP suites with views over the field, a performing arts complex, a health and leisure club, a new rugby shop and a general increase in function space. In July 2005, the old south stand was demolished to make way for the new development. The festivities that were planned to mark this were cancelled in the wake of the [[7 July 2005 London bombings|7 July terror attacks]] in the centre of London. The new seating, which had been started by [[Mowlem]], was completed by [[Carillion]] on 5 November 2006 in time for the England vs New Zealand game of that year's [[2006 end of year rugby tests|autumn internationals]] series, in which England lost in a near-record defeat.<ref name=newsteel/> 
[[File:Twickenham Stadium 04.jpg|thumb|left|The East Stand redevelopment completed in 2018.]]

The rugby stadium continued to be developed into 2018 with the upgrading of the east stand. The new stand offers match-day hospitality as well as six floors of event spacing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.twickenhamstadium.com/news/conferences-and-venue-hire/twickenham-prepares-to-unveil-new-east-stand-to-the-industry |website=twickenhamstadium.com|title=TWICKENHAM PREPARES TO UNVEIL NEW EAST STAND TO THE INDUSTRY|date=16 November 2018|access-date =16 November 2018}}</ref> The east stand was over budget due to additional safety measures put in place to make the redeveloped structure capable of withstanding a bomb attack, and to make it fireproof, with work carried out on the cladding in response to the [[Grenfell Tower fire]]. Following the upgrade, the roof is now complete.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2018/02/28/twickenham-redevelopment-facing-cost-increases/|website=|title=TWICKENHAM REDEVELOPMENT FACING COST INCREASES|date=28 February 2018|access-date =28 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stadia-magazine.com/news/renovation-refurbishment/new-east-stand-at-twickenham-stadium.html|website=|title=New East Stand at Twickenham Stadium opens: A look at six floors of hospitality|date=9 November 2018|access-date =9 November 2018}}</ref>

==Rugby World Cup==
Twickenham Stadium has hosted Rugby World Cup Matches in 1991, 1999 and 2015, including the finals in 1991 and 2015 when England were the host nation. The Stadium also hosted semi-finals in 1999, including France's famous 43–31 victory over New Zealand. In August 2023, the stadium was confirmed as one of eight host venues for the [[2025 Women's Rugby World Cup]].<ref name="2025 Rugby World Cup">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/66576330 |title=Rugby World Cup 2025: Eight host venues named for tournament in England |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=21 August 2023 |access-date=22 August 2023 }}</ref>

===1991 Rugby World Cup===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Stage !! Team 1 !! Score !! Team 2
|-
| Pool A || England || 12–18 || New Zealand
|-
| Pool A || England || 36–6 || Italy
|-
| Pool A || England || 37–9 || United States
|-
| Final || England || 6–12 || Australia
|}

===1999 Rugby World Cup===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Stage !! Team 1 !! Score !! Team 2
|-
| Pool B || England || 67–7 || Italy
|-
| Pool B || England || 16–30 || New Zealand
|-
| Pool B || England || 101–10 || Tonga
|-
| Quarter-final play-off || England || 45–24 || Fiji
|-
| Semi-final || Australia || 27–21 || South Africa
|-
| Semi-final || France || 43–31 || New Zealand
|}

===2015 Rugby World Cup===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Stage !! Team 1 !! Score !! Team 2
|-
| Pool A || England || 35–11 || Fiji
|-
| Pool A || England || 25–28 || Wales
|-
| Pool A || England || 13–33 || Australia
|-
| Pool A || Australia || 15–6 || Wales
|-
| Pool D || France || 32–10 || Italy
|-
| Quarter-final || South Africa || 23–19 || Wales
|-
| Quarter-final || Australia || 35–34 || Scotland
|-
| Semi-final || South Africa || 18–20 || New Zealand
|-
| Semi-final || Argentina ||15–29|| Australia
|-
| Final || New Zealand || 34–17 ||Australia
|}

===2025 Women's Rugby World Cup===
The stadium was one of eight host venues for the [[2025 Women's Rugby World Cup]] and hosted the final of the competition on 27 September 2025.<ref name="2025 Rugby World Cup"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|+2025 Women's Rugby World Cup matches held at Twickenham Stadium
!scope=col|Date
!scope=col|Country
!scope=col|Score
!scope=col|Country
!scope=col|Stage
!scope=col|Attendance
!scope=col|Ref
|-
| 27 September 2025
|align="right"| France
|align="center"| 26 / 42
| New Zealand
| <!--[[2025 Women's Rugby World Cup knockout stage#Bronze final|Bronze final]]-->Bronze final
|
|
|-
| 27 September 2025
|align="right"| England
|align="center"| 33 / 13
| Canada
| <!--[[2025 Women's Rugby World Cup final|Final]]-->Final
| 81,885
| <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-27 |title=Canada 13-33 England: Red Roses win Women's Rugby World Cup |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/czjvgj81y2mo |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|}

==Other uses==

===Concerts===
[[File:Iron Maiden - Twickenham London - 050708.jpg|thumb|280px|right|An [[Iron Maiden]] concert in 2008]]

Due to the construction delays of [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]], a number of scheduled events at Wembley were moved to Twickenham. [[The Rolling Stones]]' [[A Bigger Bang Tour]] concerts were taken to Twickenham.<ref name="gigs">{{cite news |publisher=BBC |title=Stadium delay hits Wembley gigs |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4862156.stm|access-date=24 September 2006|date=31 March 2006}}</ref> The Stones also played two shows at Twickenham in August and September 2003, the first of which was used as their stadium concert disc for the 2003 DVD [[Four Flicks]]. During 2007 [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] played at Twickenham during their [[Turn It On Again: The Tour|reunion tour]]. [[The Police]] played at the stadium in September 2007 and [[Rod Stewart]] in June. The usual capacity for concerts is anything up to 55,000, as opposed to the 82,000 for rugby.<ref name="musiccap">{{cite web|publisher=The Twickenham Rugby Stadium|title=RFU apply for two additional concerts at Twickenham Stadium in 2007|url=http://www.rfu.com/microsites/twickenham/index.cfm?StoryID=14822|access-date=21 March 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625050620/http://www.rfu.com/microsites/twickenham/index.cfm?StoryID=14822|archive-date=25 June 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[R.E.M.]] performed at Twickenham in August 2008, while New Jersey rockers [[Bon Jovi]] played two gigs at the stadium in June 2008 as part of their [[Lost Highway Tour]], and [[Iron Maiden]] played there as part of their [[Somewhere Back in Time World Tour]] on 5 July 2008, along with a full supporting bill which included [[Avenged Sevenfold]], [[Within Temptation]] and Lauren Harris. [[Lady Gaga]] performed two sold-out shows at the stadium during her [[Born This Way Ball]] Tour on the 8 and 9 September 2012 with 101,250 people attending for both shows. The first date broke a record for The Fastest Selling-out Stadium Show in UK history when the 50,625 tickets for the first show sold out in 50 seconds. [[Rihanna]] performed two shows at the stadium during her [[Diamonds World Tour]] on 15 and 16 June 2013 for 95,971 people for both nights.

Since the mid-1950s it has also hosted the [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] annual convention for the London area. Usually up to 25,000 attend to hear Bible talks.

In 2025, the stadium′s operator asked to increase the number of non-sporting events allowed each year from three to up to fifteen, and to raise the attendance limit for those events to 75,000 people.

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Date
! Performer(s)
! Opening act(s)
! Tour/Event
! Attendance
! Notes
|-
| 24 August 2003
|rowspan="2"|[[The Rolling Stones]]
|rowspan="2"|
|rowspan="2"|[[Licks Tour]]
|rowspan="2"|
|
|-
| 20 September 2003
|
|-
| 18 June 2005
|rowspan="2"|[[U2]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Doves (band)|Doves]], [[Idlewild (band)|Idlewild]], [[Athlete (band)|Athlete]], [[Ash (band)|Ash]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Vertigo Tour]]
|rowspan="2"|110,796
|
|-
| 19 June 2005
|
|-
| 17 June 2006
|[[Eagles (band)|Eagles]]
|
|Farewell 1 Tour
|
|
|-
| 20 August 2006
|rowspan="2"|[[The Rolling Stones]]
|[[Feeder (band)|Feeder]]
|rowspan="2"|[[A Bigger Bang (concert tour)|A Bigger Bang]]
|rowspan="2"|100,540
|
|-
| 22 August 2006
|[[The Charlatans (English band)|The Charlatans]]
|
|-
| 30 June 2007
|[[Rod Stewart]]
|
|Greatest Hits
| 
| 
|-
| 8 July 2007
|[[Genesis (band)|Genesis]]
|
| [[Turn It On Again: The Tour]]
| 54,279
|
|-
| 27 June 2008
|rowspan="2"|[[Bon Jovi]]
|[[Biffy Clyro]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Lost Highway Tour]]
|rowspan="2"|92,852
|
|-
|28 June 2008
|[[The Feeling]]
|
|-
| 5 July 2008
|[[Iron Maiden]]
|[[Avenged Sevenfold]], [[Within Temptation]], [[Lauren Harris]]
|[[Somewhere Back in Time World Tour]]
| 55,000
|
|-
| 30 August 2008
|[[R.E.M.]]
|
|Accelerate Tour
| 
|
|-
| 8 September 2007
|rowspan="2"|[[The Police]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Maxïmo Park]], [[Fiction Plane]]
|rowspan="2"|[[The Police Reunion Tour]]
|rowspan="2"|104,417
|
|-
|9 September 2007
|
|-
| 12 September 2010
|Various Artists
|
|[[Help for Heroes#Help for Heroes Concert 2010|Help For Heroes Concert]]
| 
|
|-
| 8 September 2012
|rowspan="2"|[[Lady Gaga]]
|rowspan="2"|[[The Darkness (band)|The Darkness]], [[Lady Starlight (DJ)|Lady Starlight]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Born This Way Ball]]
|rowspan="2"|101,250
|
|-
| 9 September 2012
|
|-
|1 June 2013
|Various Artists
|
|Sound of Change Live
|45,060
|
|-
| 15 June 2013
|rowspan="2"|[[Rihanna]]
|rowspan="2"|[[David Guetta]], GTA
|rowspan="2"|[[Diamonds World Tour]]
|rowspan="2"|95,971
|
|-
|16 June 2013
|
|-
| 8 July 2017
|rowspan="2"|[[U2]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds]]
|rowspan="2"|[[The Joshua Tree Tour 2017]]
|rowspan="2"|108,894
|
|-
| 9 July 2017
|
|-
| 19 June 2018
|[[The Rolling Stones]]
|[[James Bay (singer)|James Bay]]
|[[No Filter Tour]]
|55,000
|
|-
| 14 July 2018
|rowspan="2"|[[Eminem]]
|[[2 Chainz]], [[Royce 5'9"]] & [[Boogie (rapper)|Boogie]]
|rowspan="2"|Revival Tour
|rowspan="2"|
|
|-
|15 July 2018
|[[Prophets of Rage]], [[Royce 5'9"]] & [[Boogie (rapper)|Boogie]]
|
|-
|20 June 2019
|[[Metallica]]
|[[Ghost (Swedish band)|Ghost]] <br/> Bokassa
|[[WorldWired Tour]]
|51,819
|
|-
|17 June 2023
|[[Depeche Mode]]
|[[Young Fathers]]
|[[Memento Mori World Tour]]
|52,662
|
|-
|10 August 2024
|Pst Jerry Eze
|
|NSPPD UK Prayer Conference
|82,000
|
|}

===American football===
{{Main|NFL International Series}}

It was announced on 3 November 2015 that the RFU and America's [[National Football League]] had agreed a three-year deal to host at least three [[NFL International Series|NFL London Games]]. The deal began in October 2016 and gave the opportunity to host an additional two games over the three-year period of the deal.<ref name="Twickenham">{{cite web|title=NFL action at Twickenham |url=http://www.englandrugby.com/news/nfl-action-twickenham/ |work=[[Rugby Football Union|England Rugby]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107021729/http://www.englandrugby.com/news/nfl-action-twickenham/ |archive-date=7 November 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 23 October 2016, the [[2016 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]] hosted the [[2016 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] at Twickenham Stadium. This was the second of three London Games in 2016, with the others being played at [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]].<ref name="2016 London games announced">{{cite web|title=NFL Announces 2016 International Series Games in London|url=http://www.nfluk.com/news/internationalseries/article-1/NFL-Announces-2016-International-Series-Games-in-London/3a1e430f-3de0-4a5d-aed7-8ca679db41a1?87555443 |website=NFL UK |publisher=[[National Football League]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126035920/http://www.nfluk.com/news/internationalseries/article-1/NFL-Announces-2016-International-Series-Games-in-London/3a1e430f-3de0-4a5d-aed7-8ca679db41a1?87555443 |archive-date=26 November 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The game was televised live in the UK on [[BBC Two]].

The final two games of the agreement were played in 2017, with matchups announced on 13 December 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=2017 London games: NFL announces which teams will be playing|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/2017-london-games-nfl-announces-which-teams-will-be-playing-0ap3000000756092|website=[[NFL.com]]|publisher=[[NFL]]|access-date=13 December 2016}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
!colspan=7|List of NFL London Games at Twickenham Stadium
|-
! Year !! Date !! UK Broadcaster !! Designated Home !! Score !! Designated Away !! Attendance
|-
| [[2016 NFL season|2016]] || 23 October || [[BBC Sport|BBC]]<ref>{{cite web|title=New York Giants vs Los Angeles Rams 10/23/16|url=http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2016102300/2016/REG7/giants-rams#menu=gameinfo&tab=preview|website=NFL|publisher=National Football League|access-date=16 April 2016}}</ref>|| {{flagicon|USA}} [[2016 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]] || 10–17 || {{flagicon|USA}} '''[[2016 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]''' || 74,121
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[2017 NFL season|2017]] || 22 October || [[Sky Sports]] || {{flagicon|USA}} '''[[2017 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]]''' || 33–0 || {{flagicon|USA}} [[2017 Arizona Cardinals season|Arizona Cardinals]] || 73,736<ref>{{cite news |last=Doyle |first=Tom |date=22 October 2017 |title=NFL London 2017: Los Angeles Rams crush Arizona Cardinals 33–0 |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/nfl-london-2017-los-angeles-rams-crush-arizona-cardinals-33-0-a3664886.html |work=[[Evening Standard]] |access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 29 October || BBC || {{flagicon|USA}} [[2017 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] || 16–33 || {{flagicon|USA}}''' [[2017 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]''' || 74,237
|}

===Rugby league===
[[File:Giants Saints.jpg|thumb|Teams walking out at Twickenham Stadium for the [[2006 Challenge Cup Final]]]]

Twickenham Stadium was selected as a host venue for the [[2000 Rugby League World Cup]] The stadium hosted the opening match between co-hosts {{rlnt|ENG}} and Ashes rivals {{rlnt|AUS}}. The game, which was the first ever rugby league match at Twickenham, saw Australia claim a 22–2 victory.

During the reconstruction of [[Wembley Stadium]], Twickenham was one of three venues which hosted the [[Challenge Cup]] Final in the years away from Wembley. The [[2001 Challenge Cup]] Final saw [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]] beat [[Bradford Bulls]] 13–6. St Helens were victorious again in [[2006 Challenge Cup|2006]] beating [[Huddersfield Giants]] 42–12.

===Car rugby===

The TV motoring show [[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|''Top Gear'']] used the pitch for a match of "car rugby". The game was 5-side and used smaller [[Kia Ceed]]s as backs and larger [[Kia Sportage]]s as forwards. [[Jeremy Clarkson]]'s team beat [[James May]]'s team 17–14. This was played prior to the pitch being resurfaced.<ref>{{cite news|title=Six Nations 2013: Top Gear team play car rugby|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/rugby-union/21478732|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=18 February 2013}}</ref>

==World Rugby Museum==
[[File:Cmglee_London_Twickenham_aerial.jpg|thumb|Twickenham Stadium (centre) and Stoop Stadium (top right) from the north in August 2015]]
The [[World Rugby Museum]] is a museum located in Twickenham Stadium. The museum covers the whole of the global game, not just English rugby union. It tells the history of the sport, including [[William Webb Ellis]] and [[Richard Lindon]], using interactive display techniques. The museum has a rolling programme of special exhibitions which cover topical issues and offer an opportunity to display some of the obscurer items in the collection. Some unique displays include an [[England national rugby union team#Strip|English rugby union jersey]] from the first ever rugby union international in 1871 between England and Scotland, and (until 2005) the [[William Webb Ellis Cup]] which was obtained by England at the [[2003 Rugby World Cup]]. Twickenham Stadium Tours are also available through the Museum and run four times per day (Tuesday to Saturday) and twice on Sundays. It is usually open every day of the week except for Mondays and on match days, when a special-priced entry is available for match ticket holders only.

==See also==
* [[Twickenham Streaker (disambiguation)]]
* [[Sport in London]]
* [[Rugby union in England]]
* [[List of rugby union stadiums by capacity]]
* [[Lists of stadiums]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*Harris, Ed, (2005). ''Twickenham: The History of the Cathedral of Rugby'', Sports Books, ({{ISBN|1899807292}})
*Spragg, Iain, (2010). ''Twickenham – 100 Years of Rugby's HQ'', Vision Sports Publishing, ({{ISBN|9781905326761}})

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| title=[[Rugby World Cup]]<br>final venue
| before=[[Eden Park]]<br/>[[Auckland]]
| after=[[Ellis Park Stadium|Ellis Park]] <br/>[[Johannesburg]]
| years=[[1991 Rugby World Cup Final|1991]]
}}
{{succession box
| title=[[European Rugby Champions Cup|Heineken Cup]]<br>[[List of European Rugby Champions Cup finals|final venue]]
| before=[[Lansdowne Road]]<br>[[Dublin]]
| after=[[Parc des Princes]]<br>Paris
| years=[[2000 Heineken Cup Final|1999–2000]]
}}
{{succession box
| title=[[European Rugby Champions Cup|Heineken Cup]]<br>[[List of European Rugby Champions Cup finals|final venue]]
| before=[[Lansdowne Road]]<br>[[Dublin]]
| after=[[Murrayfield Stadium|Murrayfield]]<br>[[Edinburgh]]
| years=[[2004 Heineken Cup Final|2003–04]]
}}
{{succession box
| title=[[European Rugby Champions Cup|Heineken Cup]]<br>[[List of European Rugby Champions Cup finals|final venue]]
| before=[[Millennium Stadium]]<br>[[Cardiff]]
| after=[[Millennium Stadium]]<br>[[Cardiff]]
| years=[[2007 Heineken Cup Final|2006–07]]
}}
{{succession box
| title=[[European Rugby Champions Cup|Heineken Cup]]<br>[[List of European Rugby Champions Cup finals|final venue]]
| before=[[Millennium Stadium]]<br>[[Cardiff]]
| after=[[Aviva Stadium]]<br>[[Dublin]]
| years=[[2012 Heineken Cup Final|2011–12]]
}}
{{succession box
| title=[[European Rugby Champions Cup]]<br>[[List of European Rugby Champions Cup finals|final venue]]
| before=[[Millennium Stadium]]<br>[[Cardiff]]
| after=[[Parc Olympique Lyonnais]]<br>[[Lyon]]
| years=[[2015 European Rugby Champions Cup Final|2014–15]]
}}
{{succession box
| title=[[Rugby World Cup]]<br>final venue
| before=[[Eden Park]]<br/>[[Auckland]]
| after=[[International Stadium Yokohama]]<br/>[[Yokohama]]
| years=[[2015 Rugby World Cup|2015]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Navboxes|list1=
{{England national rugby union team}}
{{Six Nations Championship}}
{{LB Richmond}}
{{1991 Rugby World Cup venues}}
{{1999 Rugby World Cup venues}}
{{European Rugby Champions Cup Final venues}}
{{2000 RLWC Venues}}
{{2015 Rugby World Cup venues}}
{{Rugby World Cup Final stadiums}}
{{Super Rugby stadiums}}
{{NFL Stadiums}}
{{World Rugby Sevens Series venues}}
{{London landmarks}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1909 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1909]]
[[Category:Music venues in London]]
[[Category:Sports venues in London]]
[[Category:National stadiums|United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Rugby union stadiums in London]]
[[Category:Sport in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]
[[Category:Twickenham]]
[[Category:Rugby union in Middlesex]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]
[[Category:NFL venues]]
[[Category:American football venues in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:2025 Women's Rugby World Cup venues]]