Billy Williams’ Cabbage Patch’ was bought by the
RFU for just short of L5573 in 1907 and within three
years it had hosted its first rugby international –
England v Wales in January 1910 in the newly expanded
International Championship, the Five Nations. Now 100
years later it has become the largest dedicated rugby
union venue in the world, seating 82,000 spectators, and
in 2015 will host its second Rugby World Cup final.
Twickenham is synonymous with the game of rugby and
embodies the spirit of the game and its followers.
Despite the intensity of modern-day competition,
opposing fans of all ages mix freely in the stands.
Banter is exchanged in the car parks and the bars, and
after the drama of the game on the pitch, players shake
hands while above them the colours of both sides mingle
as the stadium empties. Post-match celebration and
debate continue in and around the ground, but the
dejection of defeat is mostly short-lived on a
Twickenham evening. 100 Years of Twickenham and the
Five/Six Nations Championship tells the story of
Twickenham’s relationship with international rugby’s
oldest competition. Mick Cleary, rugby correspondent of
The Daily Telegraph, provides the narrative, while
leading rugby historian and statistician Chris Rhys
provides an authoritative record of every game played in
each decade of the competition plus additional records
and tables. The tale begins in the early years of the
championship, disrupted by two World Wars and to some
extent marred by the absence of France for most of the
1930s. Nevertheless every period has its legends and
this was the time of Ronnie Poulton, Wavell Wakefield
and Alex Obolensky, George Stephenson of Ireland,
Scotland’s Oxford Four and Welshmen Wilf Wooller,
Cliff Jones and Vivian Jenkins – great players who
dominated the game in their time. In the post-war era,
the championship, France and the crowds returned to
Twickenham. Grand Slams were won and lost at the stadium
as the game’s famous names paraded their talents in
front of knowledgeable and appreciative spectators.
Jackie Kyle was the inspiration for Ireland in the late
1940s; Cliff Morgan led the way for the Welsh, to be
followed by the likes of Gareth Edwards, Barry John and
J.P.R. Williams in the 1970s; Jean Prat and Guy Basquet
brought France to the fore; Jim Aitken and David Sole
enjoyed great moments for Scotland; Bill Beaumont and
Will Carling led England revivals. In 2000 Italy joined
the competition – now the Six Nations – and have
already enjoyed their own special days and the talents
of Diego DomĂnguez and Sergio Parisse. Over the
past 30 years Twickenham has steadily evolved from a
traditional rugby ground into a multi-purpose modern
arena. But throughout all the changes it has managed to
retain its special, indeed unique, atmosphere. A huge
international event can still be a memorable day out for
the family – a tradition that Twickenham will carry
with pride into its preparations for Rugby World Cup
2015. |
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