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30 Blimey, My Bike’s Shrunk ...

Writer's picture: Dave GobleDave Goble

Updated: Feb 25, 2024

Home to England rugby.

The Core Values Statue stands outside the home to England rugby


The statue was unveiled in June 2010 by pop artist and sculptor Gerald Laing. The 27 foot high bronze represents the five core values of England Rugby: teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship.


The stadium has an interesting history.


In 1907 Rugby Football Union committee member Billy Williams splashed out £5,572.12.6 of the fledgling RFU's cash for just over ten acres of land covered mostly in cabbages, being occupied at the time, (and more many years it would appear), by a market garden dedicated the growing of said vegetable. The very cabbages responsible about 55 years earlier for the brevity of Alfred Tennyson’s tenure in his Twickenham home a mile and a half down the road, (and, crucially, downwind). Post 37 elaborates.


The days of the market garden were numbered. A year later, in 1908, the first stands of Twickenham Stadium were constructed on the old cabbage patch – hence the ground’s nickname. If only Billy had turned up sooner, or Tennyson later. Covered stands were built in the east and the west, with a terrace to the south. Land was given to a “car park” to the west, with enough space for 200 carriages. It officially opened in 1909.


WWI inevitably interrupted the blooming of Twickenham as a major sports venue, and from it's outbreak in 1914 until after it ended four year later the stadium ceased to hold events, the pitch being used instead to graze cattle and horses.


After the war, in 1925 construction of the 10,500 seat North Stand was completed, meaning for the first time that buildings surrounded the pitch. On opening of the stand Twickenham received a record 60,000 crowd to see England face New Zealand as part of the Invincibles tour.


In 1940, on the outbreak of WW2, the stadium became a civil defence depot, with function rooms inside the stadium converted into dormitories and common rooms. The east car park was dug over to make allotments and help with food shortages; the west car park became a coal dump.


In the following years various improvements were made including the opening of a new North Stand with 14,800 seats, a new East Stand providing 25,000 seats and a new West Stand with 25,000 seats. Dressing rooms were renovated and floodlights installed.


Seating capacity today is 82,000 in what is currently the largest dedicated rugby union venue in the world. It also plays host to other large events, including music concerts.


Red arrow: The Core Values Statue standing outside the stadium

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