The Rugby World Cup kicks off with England facing Fiji, here’s everything you need to know about the venues where the players will be battling it out for the coveted trophy.
London
Twickenham Stadium
Capacity: 82,000
The home of English rugby will host three group games, two quarter-finals, both semis and the October 31 final, when it joins Eden Park in Auckland as the only venues to have hosted two World Cup finals.
Wembley Stadium
Capacity: 90,000
The venue for New Zealand versus Argentina and Ireland against Romania in the pool stages.
The stadium already boasts the world-record attendance for a club rugby match after 84,068 saw Saracens beat Harlequins earlier this year.
Olympic Stadium
Capacity: 54,000
The London 2012 arena will stage four group games as well as the third-place play-off.
The World Cup will be one of the final events staged at the stadium before it is handed over to West Ham United.
Cardiff
Millennium Stadium
Capacity: 74,500
The only non-English venue, it will be put to good use with six pool matches and two quarter-finals.
Wales will play two of their Pool A fixtures at home – but not against Australia after the Wallabies complained to the tournament organisers.
Manchester
Manchester City Stadium
Capacity: 55,000
The former 2002 Commonwealth Games stadium will stage England versus Uruguay in the hosts’ final group game.
Leeds
Elland Road
Capacity: 37,900
Scotland versus the United States and Italy’s clash with Canada will both take place at the home of Leeds United.
Was one of eight grounds used at Euro 96.
Newcastle
St James’ Park
Capacity: 52,400
Travelling fans can expect the usual warm Geordie welcome when the city plays host to three pool games – including Scotland’s clashes with South Africa and Samoa.
Leicester
Leicester City Stadium
Capacity: 32,250
The closest tournament venue to the game’s birthplace in Rugby, Warwickshire, will stage three group fixtures.
Birmingham
Villa Park
Capacity: 42,700
England’s second city will see two pool matches, Australia v Uruguay and South Africa’s match with Samoa.
The original stadium designs were drawn up by the famous architect Archibald Leith, whose credits also include Ibrox, Goodison and the old Highbury.
Gloucester
Kingsholm
Capacity: 16,500
Scotland will kick off their tournament at “Castle Grim” when they play Japan, while it will stage three other early-round clashes.
Fans will also be able to pop along to the nearby Gloucester Cathedral, where scenes from the Harry Potter films were shot.
Exeter
Sandy Park
Capacity: 12,300
Three games are scheduled for Exeter Chiefs’ home patch during the pool stage – near to where the last woman to be executed for witchcraft died in 1682.
Milton Keynes
Stadium mk
Capacity: 30,500
Another ground hosting three games in the pool stage.
The £68 million stadium has already staged a Heineken Cup quarter and semi-final.
Brighton
Brighton Community Stadium
Capacity: 30,750
The Pool B matches South Africa v Japan and Samoa v United States are scheduled for the south coast.
Supporters will be able to lap up the World Cup atmosphere at a fanzone based on Brighton beach.
