Twickenham Stadium will welcome 2,000 fans as rugby returns this weekend.

The Quilter International of the Autumn Nations Cup takes place on Sunday, December 6 when England play France (KO 14.00 GMT).

RFU CEO Bill Sweeney said: "We're looking forward to seeing fans back in the stadium this weekend.

"While the numbers are limited, it is an opportunity to operate a socially distanced event as a small step forward in our plans for the return of fans to stadia.

"Our staff at the stadium have worked hard to put numerous measures in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all those attending the game, including 400 NHS workers who have been invited as a thank you from the rugby family for all their sacrifice and hard work this year.

"The team will be really pleased to have fans supporting them in person along with the thousands that will be watching on Amazon Prime Video."

Tickets and seating

Twenty percent of the seats for the game have been gifted to local NHS workers, the remaining are for players families, local rugby clubs, sponsors and around 1,000 are on sale to local residents.

Spectators will be seated in the lower tiers of the East and South stands and must be from a single household, which includes their support bubble.

To comply with NHS Test and Trace and to ensure safety throughout, every person attending the match will be required to have their own mobile ticket on their own device, via the Twickenham Stadium app.

The only exceptions are for accompanied minors (those under 18 - where proof of age may be required) or for those people with a disability attending the match with a companion.

Entering the stadium

Tickets will direct spectators to enter the stadium via assigned entry gates either – A, E or F - depending on which is closest to a spectator's allocated seat.

There will be staggered entry times to prevent the build-up of queues outside the ground and queue lanes outside the stadium by Gates A, E and F and in the area around the statue (in front of Marriott hotel) to safely manage fans' arrival.

Safety measures

The RFU has worked with Government and Richmond Council on the safety plans and procedures to allow fans to safely return, including the measures detailed below.

Spectators living in tier 3, very high alert areas, will not be allowed to attend the fixture.

Additionally, the ticketing strategy means the vast majority of the crowd will be from the local area, London and the South East. This is to minimise travel.

There will be 135 sanitiser stations to encourage good hand hygiene. Face coverings will be mandatory within the stadium, except when eating and drinking in their allocated seat. Staffing levels will be above normal for a crowd of this size to enforce social distancing and COVID measures.

There will be no off-pitch entertainment or sponsor activations.

Cleaning and waste collection regime will be increased.

Spectators will be advised, as per government guidelines, to avoid busy times and routes on public transport, encouraging fans to cycle, walk or use private vehicles; Up to 1,000 parking spaces will be available for spectators in RFU controlled car parks for this match.

Stadium will be segregated at the North East Corner and West Stand to prevent circulation.

One way systems will be implemented throughout the venue. All spectators are required to read and sign up to a code of conduct and watch a mandatory 'what to expect' video before attending the game.

Temperature checks will be in place on arrival.

Food and Beverages

Restaurant style service will be available in both the Gate and Lock restaurants in the East stand for sponsors, hospitality guests, box holders and debenture holders.

These will be pre-booked tables, following the same government guidance as restaurants – with only household and support bubbles being able to sit together.

Food, alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, tea and coffee will be available on the concourse at the Union 15 and West Cornwall Pasty Co. concessions.

The Drop Kick bar will be open to serve drinks. These are open 90 minutes prior to kick off and will close 20 minutes before the final whistle. Alcoholic drinks must be consumed in a seat in the stadium bowl, in line with government guidance.

On a typical match day there would be 41 food/drink units however this Sunday there will be three.