Client details:
Site: www.englandrugby.com
Sector: Leisure & Entertainment
Turnover: £230M
Where: Twickenham Stadium, London, UK
entrustIT’s performance with regard to Data, AV, Electrical Design and Installation work has been excellent. Coupled with a first class customer service record, they come highly recommended by us“
Rik Atkinson
Project Manager
Global leaders in facilities management
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the national governing body for rugby union in England, responsible for the development, promotion, and regulation of the sport at all levels. Established in 1871, the RFU oversees community and grassroots rugby, the professional game, and the England men’s and women’s national teams. Its remit includes safeguarding, coaching and referee development, competition governance, and the long-term growth and sustainability of rugby union across England.
Twickenham Stadium, owned and operated by the RFU, is the home of England Rugby and the largest dedicated rugby union stadium in the world. Located in south-west London, Twickenham hosts international test matches, domestic finals, and major global rugby events, as well as large-scale non-sporting events such as concerts. As both a national sporting icon and a complex, high-capacity venue, Twickenham plays a central role in the RFU’s commercial strategy, fan engagement, and delivery of world-class matchday and event experiences.
The challenge
Twickenham Stadium undertook a comprehensive upgrade of its player changing facilities to enhance the experience for elite athletes and align the environment with modern professional rugby standards. The objectives behind the upgrade of the player changing facilities at Twickenham Stadium were centred on creating a more effective performance environment for elite teams. A key requirement was to improve the delivery of tactical information, team communications, and motivational content within the changing rooms. Existing audio and visual provision was limited in its ability to support modern coaching methods, prompting the need for a reliable, high-quality sound system and video display solution capable of supporting team briefings and analysis in a high-pressure matchday setting.
In response, the RFU sought a solution that would be intuitive for coaching staff to use, robust enough to operate consistently on matchdays, and capable of delivering clear audio and visual content to all players within the space. The upgraded sound system and integrated video screens were designed to meet these objectives, enabling effective communication, improved engagement, and a more immersive pre- and post-match environment aligned with the expectations of international-level rugby.
The solution
The RFU appointed SES (Shepherd Engineering Services), a division of the Shepherd Group, as the principal contractor for a new project at Twickenham Stadium. entrustIT was selected as the specialist Audio Visual consultant and installer, responsible for reviewing, refining, and finalising the pre-defined AV specification. DWM’s initial proposal centred on a fully integrated audio and visual platform delivered via a centralised matrix-based control system. However, following budget constraints identified during the project, entrustIT was commissioned to value-engineer the design to align with the available funding. Through an extensive consultancy process, balancing cost, performance, and technology options, it was agreed that a series of independent but complementary solutions would be deployed.
An independent, amplified sound system was specified with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming capabilities, with a particular emphasis on sound quality and output to support pre-match motivation and team communications. To minimise visual impact and mitigate exposure to potential water ingress, all speakers and subwoofers were ceiling-mounted. entrustIT delivered a high-performance solution using a Community ceiling-mounted speaker and distribution subwoofer system, achieving both the required acoustic performance and a discreet, aesthetically sympathetic installation.
The audio-visual requirements were addressed through a combination of large-format interactive displays and non-interactive LCD screens, controlled from multiple locations. The standalone AV solution comprised five LCD displays and two large-format interactive displays, supporting six independent control positions. This configuration provided flexibility for coaching staff, analysts, and support teams to deliver content where and when required.
The sound system deployment ensured consistent, high-quality audio coverage across the Home Changing Room and the adjacent entrance and exit corridor. Within the changing room itself, a large-format interactive display was installed, with a second interactive display located in the Analysts’ area. This enabled both localised control and independent operation from the Analysts’ space. Additional displays installed within both the Home and Away changing rooms facilitated more focused review of pre-prepared video content.
Throughout the project, entrustIT’s design team worked in close collaboration with the fabric fit-out contractor to ensure that all displays and ceiling-mounted audio components were seamlessly integrated into the architectural finishes of the changing room environment. The overarching objective was to deliver optimum technology capability with minimal visual intrusion.
The solution was delivered within a significantly accelerated programme, ensuring the upgraded facilities were fully operational in time for RFU use ahead of the scheduled Autumn International fixtures.
The benefits
DWM delivered the works to a tightly managed programme defined by LLAOL, coordinating on-site engineering resources alongside multiple contractors delivering parallel services.
Effective planning and collaboration ensured the installation was completed smoothly, with minimal disruption to the airport’s day-to-day operations.
As a result, London Luton Airport now benefits from a highly modern, technically advanced security solution that supports the ongoing safety of passengers and staff. This capability is underpinned by an Excel infrastructure platform, backed by a comprehensive 25-year warranty, providing long-term assurance and resilience.
