A Brief History of Twickenham Stadium

Twickenham Stadium, England

Twickenham Stadium, located on Whitton Road, Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, South West London, is the National Stadium of England; and is soon to premier as one of the 13, pre-selected Venues to help co-host The 2015 Rugby World Cup, which is all set to kick off (Ahem, if you'll pardon the pun!) on September 18th, 2015.

All Blacks at Twickenham

Twickenham, AKA "The Tarquin Dome", or "Twickers", as it is sometimes referred to, stands as the largest Rugby Union Stadium in the World, and also holds the proud distinctions of being the 2nd largest Stadium in The United Kingdom, London (Next to Wembley Stadium, also London), and the 4th largest Stadium in all of Europe, with a crowd capacity of 82,000.

An aerial view of Twickenham Stadium

In the year 1907, RFU (Rugby Football Union) Committee Member, William "Billy" Williams, along with RFU Treasurer, William Cail, set out, upon the urging of some anxious Employers, on what would eventually be noted as a history-making endeavour: To seek out and purchase England's first Rugby Union dedicated grounds.

Recognizing some great, albeit hidden, potential, Billy Williams settled upon a humble Cabbage Patch, resting comfortably in Twickenham, London.

For £5,500 12s and 6d, the 10¼ acres were swiftly purchased, and construction began the following year for what would later be referred to as, "The Home of Rugby Union".  As a result of these "game changing" events, Twickenham Stadium would also come to be affectionately referred to as "Billy Williams' Cabbage Patch, "The Cabbage Patch", or just simply "Headquarters".

On October 2nd, 1909, Twickenham Stadium hosted its inaugural Match between English Rugby Union club Teams, Harlequins and Richmond (14-10, Harlequins).   A first International Test Match would soon follow, making its Twickenham debut on January 15th, 1910, between International Rugby Teams, England and Wales (11-6, England).  At that time, Twickenham's maximum capacity only allowed for a mere 20,000 spectators.

During the First World War (WWI), England's most beloved Stadium was once again humbled and brought down to the lowly status of "Cow Pasture", when it was temporarily converted for the necessary grazing of some of the country's sheep, horse, and cattle populations.  In public remembrance and gratitude of this noble sacrifice, King George V would later unveil a War Memorial, in 1921.

In the year 1959, old adversaries, England and Wales, joined forces to battle worthy opponents, Ireland and Scotland, in a unique Test Match to celebrate Twickenham's 50th Anniversary.  England and Wales won the Match, 26-17.

In celebration of Twickenham's 100th Anniversary, England's International Rugby Players wore commemorative shirts in an International Test Match against Wales that was played on February 6th, 2010, in Twickenham Stadium.  England, rather appropriately, thrashed the opposing Team, winning the historical game with a final score of 30-17.

In a love affair that has lasted for over a century, Billy's Cabbage Patch also retains the unique, additional distinction of being the only National Stadium in the entire World to have its native Team,  England, play nearly all their Home Games there (as opposed to any other National Team of the World, who prefer to "switch up" their playing Venues on a regular basis), and is considered to be by its Patrons, one of England's most-precious treasures and crowning achievements (if you'll pardon the 2nd pun!).