Time for Rugby: Take a Coach to the RBS 6 Nations Stadiums

The Rugby 6 Nations Tournament is in full swing: The first round has seen triumphant England and France sides whereas Ireland and Wales conceded a draw in their match against each other. The competition, which is still going on until 19 March, is held annually in six stadiums dispersed among the six participating nations.
 

Twickenham Stadium in London

Twickenham Stadium with a capacity of 82,000 seats is located in the south west of the British capital and is – after Wembley – the second largest stadium in the UK. The ground, on which the stadium sits, was originally used to cultivate cabbage, which is why the stadium is also nicknamed “Cabbage Patch”. It was acquired by the RFU in 1907 for £5,500. The stadium is the official home of the England national rugby team, but it also regularly hosts concerts, which can be visited by up to 110,000 fans. Starting in October 2016, Twickenham Stadium will also be used for NFL American Football Matches.

The Editorial Team Recommends: On England match days (27 February and 12 March) the coach company National Express offers numerous additional direct connections to Twickenham from many cities in the UK, including Birmingham and Bristol.

Cheap Bus Connections to London:
Nottingham ↔ London, megabus, starting from £3
Newcastle-upon-Tyne ↔ London, megabus, starting from £5
 

Principality Stadium (former Millennium Stadium) in Cardiff

Before the closure of a sponsorship deal, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff used to be called Millennium Stadium. It provides space for 74,500 fans and hosts prestigious rugby as well as football matches. In 2017, the stadium will host the UEFA Champions League final. The Principality Stadium was built for the 1999 Rugby World Cup and is thus a fairly modern venue: Its bars, for instance, are equipped with so-called “joy machines”, which allow the bar tenders to pour 12 pints of beer in only 20 seconds. Not only is the stadium home to the Welsh rugby team but also to a resident hawk called “Dad”. He is responsible for getting rid of pigeons in the stadium.

Cheap Bus Connections to Cardiff:
London ↔ Cardiff, National Express, starting from £5
Swansea ↔ Cardiff, megabus, starting from £3.50
 

BT Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh

The BT Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh is the largest stadium in Scotland providing enough space for 67,114 spectators. While the stadium is mainly used for large-scale rugby events, it also doubles as an events venue. Music superstars such as the Foo Fighters and Oasis have played sold-out shows at Murrayfield. In addition, the stadium is also sometimes used for Scottish Premier League football matches. Because of its size the suggestions was brought forward, that Murrayfield could replace Hampden Park as Scotland’s national stadium.

Cheap Bus Connections to Edinburgh:
Glasgow ↔ Edinburgh, National Express, starting from £5
Birmingham ↔ Edinburgh, megabus, starting from £7.50
 

Get to the Stadiums Abroad: Stade de France in Paris, Stadio Olimpico in Rome and Aviva Stadium in Dublin

The RBS 6 Nations Rugby Tournament is not only hosted in the UK but also in stadiums across the remaining participants, namely France, Italy and Ireland. The French team’s matches are played in the national stadium of France, the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. Italy’s rugby team faces their opponents at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, which is also the official home of the two local football teams Lazio and AS Roma. Ireland’s rugby matches are played at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. All of these arenas can easily be reached by bus allowing rugby fans to support their respective teams on site.

Cheap Bus Connections to Paris, Dublin and Rome:
London ↔ Paris, Eurolines UK, starting from £10
Manchester ↔ Dublin, Eurolines UK, starting from £29
London ↔ Rome, Eurolines UK, starting from £79