Twickenham could host 20,000 fans for England’s clash with the Barbarians

Rugby fans will be eagerly waiting to hear whether they can finally attend a game and be let back into Twickenham stadium to support the England team.

A MATCH against the Barbarians in October, which was postponed in June, could see the largest crowd at a sporting event in the UK since restrictions were imposed in March.

Following the Covid-19 health crisis, attendance at sporting events have been restricted for fans, but the announcement that up to 20,00 could be allowed into Twickenham, will give rugby fans some optimism.

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said: “We continue to work closely with government and the local authority on the return of sports fans to the stadium.”

“Local resident and spectator safety is our top priority and numerous measures are being implemented for the events that either adhere to or exceed the guidance provided by the government and the Sports Ground Safety Authority,” he continued.

Before concluding, “A test event will be held to put into practice our operational plans and demonstrate that Twickenham Stadium is well prepared.”

Twickenham has a capacity of 82,000.

The RFU is hopeful that the proposal will go through and is already planning a number of safety measures.

To reduce the risk of the virus being transmitted in the stadium, fans will be required to wear face masks, except when in their assigned seats, or when eating or drinking.

Paper tickets will not be provided with digital tickets only be accepted.

A one-way system is also being proposed to manage crowd movement.

The match against the Barbarians is for the Quilter Cup and is set to take place a day after the Premiership final and the weekend before the final round of Six Nations fixtures.

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