Design consultancy scores with Twickenham rugby museum contract

Wilmslow-based visitor attraction design consultancy Mather & Co has been appointed as the designer of the new World Rugby Museum scheduled to open in early 2018 at Twickenham Stadium.

Commissioned by the Rugby Football Union as part of the redevelopment of the East Stand at Twickenham Stadium, the museum will be around 650 sq m in size and will chart the history of rugby from the early days as ‘mob football’ through to the women’s and men’s World Cups and beyond.

“Exhibits within the museum will explore how the game is played throughout the world, not just within the home nations,” says Chris Mather, chief executive at Mather & Co

“Visitors will also be able to learn how the sport has had a huge impact on schools throughout history, while being able to train like a professional player through physical ‘interactive’ exhibits in the museum.”

“Our experience of designing the Springbok Museum in Cape Town has shown us that visitors love the exhibits that allow them to interact and test their own skills against those of their heroes, so we will be incorporating many ways to do just that.”

The museum’s collection contains more than 38,000 objects and is the largest and most comprehensive collection of rugby football memorabilia in the world. Many items from this important collection will be on display in the museum, including key items such as the Calcutta Cup.

The designs also incorporate a mini exhibition space, and an area dedicated to the Six Nations.

“Mather & Co has extensive credentials in creating world-class rugby museums and was the natural choice for designing the new World Rugby Museum here at Twickenham Stadium,” said World Rugby Museum curator Phil McGowan.

“We’re excited to deliver an amazing and engaging visitor attraction for rugby super-fans, but also for those people that want a great day out.”