The impressive Twickenham stadium is the home of English rugby union. It houses a multimedia museum that uses touch-screens, video clips and film to chart the history and worldwide growth of the sport. Star exhibit must be the Calcutta Cup, the intricately engraved trophy made of silver rupees that England and Scotland have been competing for since 1879. Other exhibits include a programme from the 1924 Olympics, the last time rugby was featured in the Olympic Games. Incidentally, the USA took the gold medal that year, making them the reigning champions.
The museum's temporary exhibition, ‘My Twickenham’, is likely to be extended well into 2012. It looks at every aspect of life at the stadium, focusing on the behind-the-scenes operations that keep the place running smoothly. Around 20 employees describe what they do on match days, giving an indication of the range of work that goes on and how the facilities have evolved over the stadium’s 102-year history. There are also audio recollections of people’s visits to Twickenham, revealing how the stadium and the visitor experience has changed over the years.
The tour of the stadium (75 mins) takes visitors behind the scenes to the England dressing rooms, the players’ tunnel and many areas not normally seen by the public. On match days the museum is open to match ticket holders only and there are no stadium tours.