Brighton & Hove, Albion Stadium (31,800)
As well as South Africa v Japan, it hosted Samoa v USA in 2015, and England U20s v France U20s in the final round of that year’s Under 20 Six Nations.
Venues
Everything you need to know about the eight venues
Ashton Gate, Bristol (26,387)
The venerable home of Bristol Bears rugby club and Bristol City football club hosted sports events since 1887, and rugby matches since the 1920s.
Sandy Park, Exeter (15,000)
Another venue that knows how to put on a rugby show as it has been the home ground of Exeter Chiefs since 2006. In July 2023, it was confirmed that the home stadium of English Premiership side Exeter Chiefs would host a two-test series between England and Canada in September, and it was selected as a venue for Rugby World Cup 2015.
Twickenham Stadium, London (82,000)
Twickenham - the largest dedicated rugby union venue in the world - needs no introduction. It has hosted internationals since 1910, and Rugby World Cup matches in 1991, 1999 and 2015, including two finals.
Salford Community Stadium, Manchester (11,404)
Salford Stadium, in northwest England, has been the thoroughly modern home of Sale Sharks, whose women’s team play in the Premier 15s and whose men’s side is in the English Premiership since it opened in 2012.
Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton (15,148)
Deep in traditional English rugby country, the 15,148 capacity Franklin’s Gardens, home ground of Premiership outfit Northampton Saints and a regular venue for Premiership Women’s Rugby side Loughborough Lightning.
Stadium of Light, Sunderland (48,707)
Football fans will recognise Sunderland’s 49,000-capacity Stadium of Light, which has been home to Sunderland AFC since 1997, and has hosted a number of football internationals, as well as numerous concerts.
York Community Stadium (8,510)
The newest of the venues for Rugby World Cup 2025, York Community Stadium opened in 2020, and has hosted pool phase and knockout matches in the 2021 Women’s Rugby League World Cup.
