Disabled Access at the Rugby Football Union
Disabled Facilities at Twickenham Stadium
 The Rugby Football Union’s Twickenham Stadium is accessible to all people and provides seating and spectator areas, parking and standard stadium facilities. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) works with its Premier Rugby clubs, local rugby clubs across the community game and with its volunteers to monitor and improve stadium facilities for disabled supporters and visitors.
The Rugby Football Union is continually striving to improve its provision and levels of service, and to encourage wider participation in and support for rugby, and it fully endorses the principles outlined in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (“DDA”) concerning access and other stadium facilities: rugby stores, museum, conference and hospitality.
 As the 2008 Paralympics has aptly demonstrated, disability is a complex issue and individuals’ needs depend entirely on their strengths, abilities, emotional & physical well being and their support networks.
Twickenham Stadium is dedicated to providing uniquely individual customer attention to reflect the differing needs of the disabled supporters who contact and visit the stadium. International ticketing is governed by the RFU’s terms and conditions, which equally apply across disabled and able bodied rugby supporters.
The Rugby Football Union employs dedicated staff to manage and monitor the resources to ensure that Twickenham Stadium provides clear and transparent procedures for ticketing, parking and other facilities.
International Matches
Wheelchair Access
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Priority Booking |
Registered Charities, Homes and Hospitals |
Rugby Club and England Rugby Supporters Members |
| Wheelchair access for all international matches held at Twickenham Stadium consists of two tickets plus car parking for each wheelchair bay available.
The wheelchair packages are currently issued free of charge.
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The RFU, through a priority booking system offers tickets to injured ex-players who have suffered life-changing spinal and brain injury whilst playing rugby. |
The RFU allocates up to 4 wheelchair packages per international match to registered charities, hospitals and care homes throughout the UK. |
All other stadium wheelchair access is allocated through a ballot for rugby club and England Rugby Supporters Club members. |
| Non-Wheelchair Access |
International ticket holders, whose tickets have been obtained via affiliated rugby clubs or through an England Rugby Supporter Club ballot, can request disabled non-wheelchair seating if tickets obtained are not suitable for their access needs as a result of their disability or following temporary impairment impeding access.
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Non- international
Public Sale Events
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Booking Form via
disabledaccess@therfu.com
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ticketmaster.co.uk
0844 847 2492
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On Line via RFU Website
(under construction)
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| Tickets
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For non-international matches held at Twickenham Stadium, those who use a wheelchair, or require non-wheelchair ‘easy access’ seating/hearing loop facilities, can apply direct to the ticket office, subject to availability. A booking form is available on request each January. The booking form enables access adjacent to the wheelchair seating for family members and friends on receipt of payment. |
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Ticket Reseats
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Tickets obtained via Ticketmaster can be exchanged for more suitable access, subject to availability. Ticketmaster customers are advised to contact Twickenham Stadium for disabled access ticketing via disabledaccess@therfu.com |
| Parking |
For ease of access, parking is included as part of the available package and then at a 50% concession for existing ticket holders. |
Provision and additional facilities for wheelchair spectators and other disabled populations in the Venue. Specify the number of positions and additional facilities for wheelchair spectators and other disabled populations in the Venue.
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Twickenham Stadium provides:-
- 336 wheelchair bays of which 272 can be used for those who require non-wheelchair disabled access
- 64 wheelchair bays in 3 covered wheelchair terraces, managed by match day stewards, which are unsuitable for non-wheelchair use.
- Lift access to 3 covered terraces managed by Stadium security
- 272 pitch level wheelchair bays in all areas of the Stadium, managed by match day stewards
- Over 7000 Stadium seats, which an be utilised for non-wheelchair ‘easy access’ in the lower tiers
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Covered terrace 1 Level 3
VIP - 14 bays
West Level 3 Terrace 1
with easy access to main hospitality
boxes, Members’ Lounge, Council Room and President’s Suite
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Covered Terrace 2 & 3 Level 4c
5 Middle tier - 50 bays
South East Terrace 2 (25 bays)
South West Terrace 3 (25 bays)
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Pitch Level
West enclosure
84 bays
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Pitch Level
North enclosure
53 bays
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Pitch Level
East enclosure
80 bays
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Stadium map showing disabled
pitch level enclosures and
wheelchair terrace lift access
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| Event Staff Development & Training |
Training in sign language, disability access and awareness. |
| Ticketing |
Provision of tickets, which meet individual
requirements and adjacent family and friends, subject to
availability.
One-off special ticketing in response to written requests,
subject to availability.
Ticket re-seats, subject to availability, for sold out events.
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| RFU Website/On line Ticketing |
Website currently work in progress to include online ticketing
for disabled supporters.
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Designated parking on-site, subject to availability, is provided
as an integral part of the wheelchair and easy access packages.
Applicants are required to supply proof of entitlement
for concessions, usually using the Disabled Blue Badge
in the UK and other similar schemes for overseas visitors.
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Event Days
Guide dogs can be admitted on request and will be issued a complimentary ticket.
Non-Event Days
Guide dogs are permitted on site on non-event days and can access most areas within the hospitality and conference facilities. Restrictions are in place which forbid guide dog access to kitchens and food service preparation areas
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- Low wheelchair counter for ticket office assistance
- All ticket office counter windows installed with hearing loop
- Specially adapted booking forms and translation to Braille available
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Stadium Seating -Hearing Loop
There are 100 Stadium seats in the South Lower linked to the hearing loop, headsets can be booked in advance by emailing disabledaccess@therfu.com or by calling the ticket office on 0208 8316516.
Companion
In the event of a visually impaired or hearing impaired person having a single ticket obtained from Ticketmaster, the ticket office can issue a complimentary ticket, enabling the person to attend with a companion, who can fully support their needs in the event of an emergency.
If a visually impaired person attends an event unaccompanied, stewarding assistance can be offered.
Where possible anyone requiring assistance to attend an event is encouraged to apply for a complimentary ticket for their companion or assistant. Proof of disability is required at the time of booking.
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All disabled areas are clearly signposted |
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In the event of an emergency the Stadium provides specially trained personnel to ensure the safe evacuation of all spectators, including those with disabilities.
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- Disabled toilets are located at all 4 corners of the Stadium
- Disabled toilets are located in all 3 wheelchair terraces
- RADAR key system to prevent the misuse of the facilities by able bodied supporters
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| Stadium Bars & Catering Outlets |
Accessible catering outlets are situated on all concourses at wheelchair level.
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Hospitality and Conference Event day facilities are provided by the RFU Partner Twickenham Experience Ltd
Any special dietary requirements, medical or cultural, can be accommodated with a minimum 5 days advance notice.
Food service and dining areas are all wheelchair accessible.
Assistance with dining can be made available if requested in advance.
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The World Rugby Museum is fully accessible
Stadium tours can be tailored to meet individuals’ physical
requirements, whilst still incorporating all aspects of the tour.
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Rugby Store
The Rugby Store located in the South West corner of the Stadium at ground floor level.
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The London Marriott Hotel Twickenham is a fully accessible hotel with 8 accessible bedrooms with en-suite accessible bathrooms. |
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Rugby Football Union Disabled Policy
The Rugby Football Union and Twickenham Experience Ltd work in partnership to ensure they meet they required responsibilities under the DDA
The (RFU) Disability Policy 2006/7 policy can be viewed on-line at www.rfu.com
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Information correct as of April 2009
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