Former England boss Clive Woodward has delivered his verdict on the naming rights deal that can see Twickenham rebranded as Allianz Stadium for no less than the subsequent 10 years. It was Monday night when the RFU caught the rugby world unguarded by unveiling a sponsorship deal value greater than £10million a yr that included the renaming of the house of English rugby from September 1.
The now 82,000-capacity stadium was opened in 1909, and its first-ever naming rights deal will now see funds injected into the sport’s elite and grassroots ranges.
RFU chief government Invoice Sweeney defended the deal on Tuesday, explaining that rugby was dealing with important monetary challenges, however Woodward has now joined the refrain of criticism expressing dissatisfaction over the title change which has utterly dropped Twickenham from the title.
Sportsmail columnist Woodward, who led England to Rugby World Cup glory in Australia in 2003, has republished his rights deal column on LinkedIn, concluding that the RFU’s contract with Allianz was no silver bullet for its presently stretched funds and that the axing of Twickenham from the bottom’s title was very unhappy.
In a submit that has been broadly commented on, Woodward wrote: “In a beautiful summer time of sport, the choice to rename Twickenham to Allianz Stadium is an almighty blow. The reason being apparent: cash.
“The RFU badly wants money to assist the neighborhood recreation, fund elite participant contracts, assist the ladies’s recreation, and mobilise a rugby sevens programme for Olympic gold. It’s wanted to drive England’s age group sides, generate coaches, and assist gamers.
“Steve Borthwick’s England confirmed nice promise within the second half of this season, however English rugby and the RFU have fallen off the tempo in world rugby and in comparison with different home and world sports activities.
“The RFU board offered its soul by renaming this historic stadium. Many, together with myself, query why and the way it has come to this. As an England participant, you’re a custodian of the jersey, accountable for filling it with satisfaction and leaving it in a greater place. This is applicable to the top coach and the RFU board. Will the board replicate if changing Twickenham with Allianz Stadium is their legacy?
“I take no consolation that Eire, Wales, and Scotland offered their stadium naming rights. England mustn’t really feel proud. All sports activities confronted challenges post-covid. Australia already has an Allianz Stadium, so we’re not distinctive!
“Some say a reputation means nothing, however Twickenham represents 100+ years of heritage. These questioning this are known as ‘traditionalists’ by the RFU which is an inexpensive shot and no totally different than calling individuals ‘outdated farts’ as Will Carling did years in the past.
“Twickenham was a fortress throughout my tenure, we took on the world and confirmed followers rugby as that they had by no means skilled it earlier than. It meant the whole lot to us. After I fly over west London, I eagerly search for Twickenham and nonetheless get goosebumps. Many really feel this, whether or not they performed for England or supported from the terraces.
“It’s spectacular how a lot cash Wimbledon leaves on the desk every year. They haven’t offered the naming rights to The Championships or Centre Court docket, they perceive the model worth Wimbledon represents. Are you able to think about Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz enjoying on Allianz Centre Court docket?
“How would Scottie Scheffler really feel arriving at Allianz Augusta? Can we wish to see the primary ball within the Ashes at Allianz Lord’s? Or see England at Allianz Wembley? This isn’t a dig at Allianz in any approach, who assist sport globally.
“The RFU should now put their mouth the place their new-found cash is. How far will a reported £10m a yr go? On the face of it, it doesn’t seem to be a lot. Will this regenerate the environment at Twickenham and get followers’ eyes again on the sector as an alternative of the subsequent pint?
“Additionally, what in regards to the Olympics? Group GB didn’t discipline a males’s sevens staff in Paris and the ladies’s gamers weren’t on full-time contracts. Missed alternatives by the RFU board. Hopefully, among the Allianz cash will go to this.
“The RFU should restore England to the head of world rugby. Cash is required, however this naming rights deal isn’t any silver bullet. The overall removing of Twickenham from the venue represented a really unhappy and poignant day.”
