SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Twickenham is now the world's biggest pub!

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Twickenham is now the world’s biggest pub! Watching England from the stands has become unpleasant… people are more interested in drinking than the rugby

• Fans are being put off going to Twickenham by the stadium’s drinking culture
• People more interested in queuing for a drink than what is happening on the field

Having experienced Twickenham’s drinking culture first-hand while working at England’s Six Nations opener against Scotland, it made me realise that the RFU have a big problem on their hands.

They have to do something about the huge number of supporters who spend most of the match getting up and down to either go to the bar to buy more beers or to go to the toilet.

Twickenham is turning into the world’s biggest pub and for many England fans, watching their team has now become a pretty unpleasant experience.

It is a complex problem and I don’t claim to have all the solutions, but this is a hugely important issue and talking point — not just for English rugby, but for the game as a whole.

I witnessed this problem during the autumn internationals and had hoped that it might be better during the Six Nations.

Fans flock to the bars on match days at Twickenham, but it is creating a problem for the RFU

Before kick-off on Saturday, I was down at pitch level to preview the match for ITV. As the teams ran out and the anthems were played, we made our way to the studio and walked through Twickenham.

I was amazed to see thousands and thousands of supporters still queuing at the bar rather than sitting in their seats ready for kick-off.

My friends and family were at the match. They were surrounded by people who were more concerned with drinking than the rugby. They were up and down throughout the game. Each time they returned, they were carrying eight pints each. 

There was no trouble. These were decent, polite guys who apologised for causing a disturbance each time. But it was still incredibly annoying for my friends and family and they had beer spilt on them from behind.

On two occasions, there were tries about to be scored and the returning fans were oblivious to the action on the pitch. What must be hugely frustrating for a lot of England fans is that many of them go to Twickenham just to watch the match.

But whether they can or not is something that’s taken out of their hands by the actions of others who block their view with constant trips to the bar.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not arguing for no drinking at all. I just want to see some understanding of this issue and a way to moderate it. The RFU need to look at it before trouble breaks out, especially when some are paying nearly £200 for a ticket.

When we are experiencing a cost of living crisis, you can’t get away from the fact that it is very expensive to go and watch England play at Twickenham.

This gets to the heart of the RFU’s issue. Do they see Twickenham as just a massive revenue generator, where they charge top prices for tickets and food and drink to replenish the coffers?

A lot of rugby fans are being put off going to Twickenham by the stadium’s drinking culture

Or do they take a step back and realise that they need to do something because a lot of rugby fans are being put off going to Twickenham by the stadium’s drinking culture? It has to be the latter.

Rugby has gone the wrong way in this area. I regularly watch Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Football is obviously a different experience to rugby because you can’t drink in the stands.

But there would be a riot at Stamford Bridge if fans were up and down as they are at Twickenham and I think that there is soon going to be trouble if action is not taken.

Rugby’s drinking culture is not just an English problem. It has been a huge issue at Wales’s games at the Principality, where there have been horror stories.

Twickenham’s drinking culture was evident at England’s Six Nations opener against Scotland 

In November 2021, one fan vomited over a young boy in Cardiff because he was so drunk. The Welsh Rugby Union’s introduction of an alcohol-free zone for games at Principality Stadium was a good move and I think Twickenham should look to do the same.

An alcohol-free seating area doesn’t mean you can’t have a beer before and after the match. But what it would do is ensure those in that area are unlikely to be disturbed during the action.

One other thing I think could be looked at is enforcing a rule where if you get up and leave your seat, you’re not allowed back in for a certain period of time.

If you’re watching tennis at Wimbledon and exit the seating area, you’re blocked from returning until the players change ends.

Watching England has now become a pretty unpleasant experience for many fans

Rugby is obviously a different sport from tennis with fewer interludes, but if fans left and weren’t allowed back in until half-time, for instance, it would stop the exodus to the bars.

I would be fascinated to hear the opinion of England fans on this issue. Maybe I’m wrong and the majority of supporters want to go to the match and have beer after beer.

But I’m sure not everyone wants that and at a time when we are trying to make rugby as inclusive as possible, I think the drinking is putting many off.

Welsh Rugby Union introduced an alcohol-free zone for games at the Principality Stadium

The England team and Steve Borthwick have talked about reconnecting with the crowd. Maybe it’s time the crowd was able to reconnect to the game, simply by being able to watch it.

Now, most are more interested in queuing for a drink than what is happening on the field and when the Six Nations is as good as it was last weekend, I just don’t understand why that’s the case.

Over to you RFU. It’s time to do something about this.

At Wimbledon if you leave your seat, you’re unable to return until the players change ends

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