Twickenham to be renamed Allianz Stadium in historic move for English rugby

Twickenham is to be renamed Allianz Stadium from September after the Rugby Football Union signed a long-term deal with the insurance company.

For the first time since it was built in 1907, the 82,000-seater home of English rugby will be rebranded as part of an agreement that the RFU insists will be “transformative” for the game. The governing body declined to reveal the amount being paid by Allianz for the naming rights, as well its investment into the senior England teams and community game, but described it as “significant”.

“We’re really pleased to be expanding our partnership with Allianz, enabling further investment into the community and professional game,” said the RFU’s chief executive Bill Sweeney. “This is an opportunity to celebrate our stadium’s proud legacy while developing it for the future. This partnership will support us in moving the game in a direction which serves all rugby, from minis to the elites, from club coaches to our national coaches and everything in between.”

Allianz already sponsors a number of sport stadiums across the globe, including Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena and the Allianz Parque in São Paulo, home of Brazilian club side Palmeiras. The first fixture to be played at English rugby union’s version will be the meeting between the Red Roses and New Zealand on 14 September.

More to follow …