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THE mecca of English rugby, Twickenham is, following the redevelopment of the south stand in 2006, the largest venue in the world which is dedicated solely to rugby union. Although the stadium has, and does, occasionally host other events – the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final, and concerts by the likes of U2, Genesis, Police, Bon Jovi and the Rolling Stones – the fact that it is wholly owned by the Rugby Football Union means it has control over the stadium. It is also home to the World Rugby Museum, which houses one of the finest collections of rugby memorabilia in the world and covers the history of the game globally, not just in England.
HOW TO GET THERE…
AIR: Twickenham is 11 miles from Heathrow airport or 30 miles from Gatwick airport
CAR: From the M25, take Junction 12 onto the M3 which becomes the A316 Chertsey Road, turn onto the B361 Whitton Road. The stadium is off the Whitton Road roundabout. Parking in the area is very limited and matchday visitors are advised to pre-book
RAIL: Twickenham mainline station is about 10 minutes’ walk and there are regular services from London Waterloo via Clapham Junction or from Reading
TUBE: Richmond station on the District Line is 2 miles from the stadium and there is a free shuttle bus service before and after a match
BUS: There is a free shuttle bus service directly to the stadium from Richmond which departs from the A316 Twickenham Road opposite the Pools on the Park (from station turn right to Richmond Circus junction, take 1st exit). The service is 50p to the stadium and the return journey is free. Other buses which pass close to the stadium are the 281, 267 and H22.
TWICKENHAM STADIUM
Whitton Road, Twickenham TW2 7BA
England
More information at:
STADE DE FRANCE is not actually in Paris, but just north of the capital city, in the suburb of Saint Denis. It was built for the 1998 football World Cup, which the host nation won. The rugby team have thus far not been able to emulate that feat, despite Stade de France being the only stadium in the world to host both football and rugby World Cup finals. It has a capacity of 80,000 and on its completion took over from Parc des Princes as the home of French rugby. In addition it has hosted international football matches and Champions League finals, the world athletics championship, the Race of Champions motorsport event and a number of domestic events in both football and rugby, although no club team is permanently based there.
HOW TO GET THERE…
AIR: The nearest airport is the Charles de Gaulle then take the RER Line B direct to the stadium
CAR: Saint Denis is 10km from Notre Dame and the stadium is located at the crossroads between auto-routes A1 and A86 but space is limited to reserved parking only
TRAIN: RER B to La Plaine – Stade de France NB Given the choice, take this option! It's much closer & easier to get to the stadium.
TUBE: Paris Metro Line 13 to Saint Denis – Porte de Paris
STADE DE FRANCE
93216 Saint-Denis
France
More information at:
NB This site is French but if you view it using google chrome, then just let it translate for you into English.
THE new-look Aviva Stadium only made its championship bow last year, but it is testimony to its success that it already feels like home to Irish rugby. It is also home to the Republic of Ireland’s national football team and has hosted the Europa League final. It is controlled by a joint venture between the Irish Rugby Football Union and the Football Association of Ireland, who together hold a 60-year lease on the stadium, after which it will return to the exclusive ownership of the IRFU. Built by the same firm of architects that was behind the Millennium Stadium (not to mention the O2 arenas in Dublin and London and the new Wimbledon Centre Court), the Aviva employs an undulating, wavelike roof similar to that of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
HOW TO GET THERE…
AIR: Dublin airport is about 25 minutes’ drive to the stadium; the Air Coach provides a 24-hour service to the nearby D4 Inn on Lansdowne Road
CAR: Not recommended there is a 1km car-free exclusion zone in operation on matchdays and there are no parking facilities at the stadium itself
RAIL: Use the DART from the city centre southbound direct to Lansdowne Road station
BUS: Routes 7, 8, 45 and 84 all serve the Ballsbridge area from Dublin city centre
AVIVA STADIUM
Lansdowne Road, Dublin 4
Ireland
More information at:
ITALY’s home games in the 2012 6 Nations championships will be held in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico while the iconic Stadio Flaminio, which has hosted the tournament matches for all 11 years since Italy joined the party, is being renovated. The plan is to return to Stadio Flaminio once refurbishment has increased its capacity to 42,000. As well as being host to Roma and Lazio, Stadio Olimpico hosts the Italian Cup final and doubles as the country’s national athletics stadium. Located 6km to the north of the city centre, the stadium boasts a capacity of 82,000 and promises to be a spectacular venue for this year’s matches.
HOW TO GET THERE…
AIR: Leonardo da Vinci-Flumicino airport is 40km from the stadium
CAR: From Milan, Florence of Bologna on the Autostrada A1, take the exit that goes into the GRA (Gran Raccordo Anulare) towards Flaminia road. Take Junction 5 signposted Flaminia then follow directions to the Foro Italico
RAIL: From Termini Central station, take the Metro Line A towards Battistini and get off at Ottavino-Saint Peter then take bus no.32 to Piazzale della Farnesina, or get off at Flaminio and take tram no.2 to Piazza Mancini
STADIO OLIMPICO
Via Foro Italico, 00194 Roma
Italy
More information at:
MURRAYFIELD, alone among the 6 Nations venues, is also home to a club side, in this case Edinburgh Rugby who play both Magners League and Heineken Cup matches there. The ground was purchased in 1922 for £3,800 from the old Edinburgh Polo Ground and Murray’s Field. Following its renovation in 1994 it became the largest sports stadium in Scotland, with a capacity of 67,130. In addition to rugby the stadium has, on occasion, hosted football, American football and rugby league games, as well as pop concerts from the likes of Bon Jovi and Oasis.
HOW TO GET THERE…
AIR: Edinburgh airport is about 30 minutes’ drive north west of the stadium
CAR: Take the A8 or A71 into Edinburgh city centre then follow the signs to the stadium. There is very little if any parking available at the stadium, however park & ride sites can be found at Hermiston and Ingliston and extra services are added on matchdays
RAIL: Edinburgh Haymarket railway station is 10-15 minutes’ walk away
MURRAYFIELD STADIUM
Corstophine Road, Edinburgh EH12 5PJ
Scotland
More information at:
NOW widely acknowledged as one of the world’s best sports and entertainment venues, the Millennium Stadium replaced nearby Cardiff Arms Park as the home of Wales Rugby Union in 1999. Boasting a capacity of 74,500, it has a fully retractable roof and was designed to be a multi-purpose event venue. It hosts football matches (FA Cup finals and Wales internationals), speedway Grands Prix, rugby league, indoor cricket and boxing, not to mention pop concerts. It is essentially a concrete stadium into which pallets of natural grass can be rolled for sporting events.
HOW TO GET THERE…
AIR: Wales International airport is 20 minutes’ drive from stadium
CAR: From the M4, take Junction 28 to Cardiff then the A48 west to the city centre. There is no parking at the stadium but it is readily available around the city
RAIL: Cardiff Central Railway Station is 5 minutes’ walk from the stadium, and First Great Western runs to and from London, Birmingham, Manchester and south-west England. Arriva Trains Wales branch line connects with Ebbw Vale, Rhymney, Merthyr, Aberdare, Coryton, Penarth and Barry
MILLENNIUM STADIUM
Westgate Street, Cardiff CF10 1NS
Wales
More information at:
