SIR CLIVE WOODWARD reveals his five-point plan to repair Twickenham

Twickenham is the house of English rugby and that should at all times stay the case.

Any good enterprise ought to discover its alternatives and choices for the long run so I’ve no situation with the RFU that they appeared into promoting Twickenham and shopping for 50 per cent of Wembley Stadium. But I have to say I’m glad that hasn’t occurred. Doing so would have been prison.

Wembley is the house of English soccer – the place the nation received the 1966 World Cup in 1966 and the Lionesses the 2022 Euros. Twickenham, against this, is synonymous with rugby and at all times needs to be. Plus, I do know from the private expertise of dropping to Wales there in 1999 that English rugby’s Wembley report isn’t good!

My views might sound quaint to many, nevertheless it’s very important the RFU respects the historical past of our nice sport.

Twickenham is right here to remain and rightly so, however the RFU are additionally completely proper to have a look at redeveloping and enhancing the stadium.

They should not relaxation on their laurels on this regard. If you evaluate Twickenham to trendy stadia on this nation like the house of Tottenham Hotspur, it’s massively behind.

Here’s my five-point plan on how the RFU can enhance the house of our nationwide sport…

1. Build an RFU Centre of Excellence at Twickenham

The RFU improvement plan for Twickenham mentions sums north of £600million when it comes to value. Clearly, that is an astronomical determine though there may be an acceptance that may’t be afforded proper now.

Without being aware about the prices concerned, I imagine it will be massively helpful for England if Twickenham grew to become not simply their residence match venue, however a central hub for the entire of English rugby. 

By that, I imply making a venue age group groups and senior nationwide sides – each males’s and girls’s – can name residence. England’s senior groups prepare at Pennyhill Park proper now. Pennyhill is an excellent facility. The males’s group first moved there once I was head coach and it was my choice to try this. 

But I feel now’s the time for the RFU to create a centre of excellence to host all its groups. Twickenham could be the right place to try this for my part. There is area within the west automotive park to supply such a facility. 

Yes it will imply presumably scrapping the automotive park and hospitality areas, however the RFU has to determine what their precedence is. Is it rugby or earning profits? I might create a brand new facility with a coaching pitch, health club and all of the extras you want subsequent to Twickenham. 

It would join the pathway sides with the senior groups. It wouldn’t be low-cost, however England would save some huge cash in the event that they left Pennyhill and it will be a smart funding. England educated at Twickenham final week and 10,000 followers confirmed up. That is a improbable means of connecting the group with the supporters. 

How good would it not be if that occurred extra usually? Wales, Scotland and France all have a central base they name residence. It’s about time England had one too.

2. Sort out the prepare station

Twickenham prepare station has undergone a substantial amount of work in recent times, however on the face of all of it that appears to have occurred is that they’ve constructed a number of new properties round it somewhat than enhancing the infrastructure. 

Simply put, it stays the case that attending to and from Twickenham through prepare each earlier than and within the quick aftermath of a sport is an absolute nightmare. That has been the case for a very long time now. Clearly the RFU can’t management public transport, but when I had been them I’d be shifting heaven and earth to work with Transport for London to enhance issues. 

There will be little doubt for my part that the big queues on the prepare station – which will be hours lengthy after full time – do put some followers off attending matches.

3. Make the seats larger

Twickenham has a powerful capability of 82,000. When the bottom is full and the group is firing on all cylinders it may be a really particular place. But having watched matches there in recent times as a fan, the truth is it isn’t one of the best fan expertise. The seats are very cramped collectively. 

Clearly getting as many followers in as potential maximises income. But once more, it shouldn’t all be about cash and I feel guaranteeing these within the stadium are snug would make for a giant enchancment.

4. Embrace alcohol-free zones  

In the previous couple of years I’ve always maintained that Twickenham has became the world’s largest pub with followers coming and going to the bar or the bathroom throughout matches. 

For many, ingesting usually appears to be the precedence over watching the rugby. The RFU is conducting a trial at Twickenham the place in some sections of the stands it’s prohibited to drink alcohol. It was used throughout the latest match towards Wales and I feel they’re a improbable thought.

I feel Twickenham ought to implement a everlasting alcohol-free zone just like the Welsh Rugby Union has at Principality Stadium.

5. Don’t overlook an important factor

We can speak all we like about enhancing a stadium. We can point out half time DJ’s, pre-match mild exhibits and beer costs. But an important factor when it comes to getting one of the best out of the place you play your private home matches is to make sure your group is performing to its very best. 

If England – and by that I imply their males’s and girls’s senior groups – can get 82,000 folks leaping off their seats with pleasure on the means they’re enjoying then the job is finished. I feel it’s improbable the Red Roses are beginning to play extra at Twickenham. 

Let’s see that proceed and England inspiring younger ladies and women to play rugby in the best way the Lionesses have finished for soccer. 

For the lads, I’d prefer to see the group play a extra attacking model of rugby and transfer away from a kicking and bodily technique.