Heightened Security Measures for Northampton-Bath Clash
Ahead of the highly anticipated Premiership final between Northampton and Bath this Saturday, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) is keen to tighten security measures at Twickenham stadium. This comes as a response to the disruptions caused by climate activists during last year’s showpiece fixture between Saracens and Sale.
In the 2023 final, flanker Tom Curry was forced to physically remove a Just Stop Oil protester who had breached the pitch. The incident was one of several sporting events briefly suspended by the activist group last year, including protests at Wimbledon, the snooker World Championship, and the Ashes at Lord’s.
“Our security arrangements are continually assessed and proportionate to the size and scale of event taking place,” an RFU spokesperson stated.
Further raising concerns, the recent Champions League final at Wembley saw three pitch invaders successfully penetrate the stadium’s defenses. An undercover investigation by Mail Sport’s Aadam Patel exposed the ease with which ticketless fans could gain access, spending just £150 to bribe a steward.
To prevent similar disruptions, the RFU will be deploying undercover security personnel throughout the Twickenham crowd for Saturday’s sold-out Premiership showdown. Premiership Rugby’s chief growth officer, Rob Calder, acknowledged the “regrettable” nature of last year’s pitch invasion, emphasizing that the RFU is “all over it” to ensure there are no repeat incidents. “Fingers crossed there won’t be anything like that again,” Calder added.
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