Twickenham Stadium
Rugby Road
Twickenham
Middlesex
TW1 1DZ
England
Telephone: 0044 020 8892 2000
Capacity: 82,000

How to get there:

By car: turn off the Chertsey Road, A316, and turn left into Whitton Road, B361, or straight across into Rugby Road.

By rail: Twickenham main line station is a 10 minute walk from the stadium. Turn right out of the stadium onto London Road, then on to Whitton Road where you will see the stadium. Regular trains run to Twickenham from London Waterloo and Clapham Junction. For times phone +44(0)345 484950.

By air: Twickenham is 11 miles from London Heathrow and 30 miles from London Gatwick.

By tube: The nearest London Underground station is Richmond, which is on the District line. Richmond is approximately two miles from Twickenham stadium. There is a taxi rank at the entrance to the station.

Redevelopment of the South Stand has elevated the capacity to 82,000, making it the nation's second-largest stadium behind Wembley. Twickenham can be an inspiring place when fans are in full song, but long spells of quiet can dampen the atmosphere on occasion. Getting to the ground can be a nightmare as the roads become gridlocked while the all too-infrequent rail service sees people herded onto over-crowded trains like cattle.

* Where to eat and drink: There are bars and pubs around Twickenham that serve as reasonable pre-match rendezvous points, but nearby Richmond, just a short ride away by train or car, is the place to be after the match.

* What to see: London has a host of tourist attractions, the pick of which are situated along the banks of the Thames. Tower Bridge and the Tower of London are must-sees, as is the London Eye and the assortment of historical buildings situated around Parliament Square. If shopping is on the agenda, then look no further than Covent Garden or Selfridges on Oxford Street.

Stade de France
ZAC du Cornillon Nord 93216
Saint-Denis-La-Paine
Cedex
France
Telephone: 0033 (0) 1559 0045
Capacity: 80,000

How to get there:

By car: Located 10km from Notre-Dame, Stade de France is located in Saint-Denis, a 95,000 populated suburb just seven minutes by car in the North of Paris.

By rail: From Gare du Nord take th elocal tran to St Denis and the ground is a five minute walk away.

The Stade de France has had a difficult time winning over those fans who still have nostalgic feelings for the more gladiatorial Parc des Princes. It has not always been a happy hunting ground for French rugby either, with the most recent setback being the defeat to Argentina in last year's World Cup opener. A short ride from Gare du Nord, the surrounding area of Saint-Denis can be dangerous after dark.

* Where to eat and drink: Fans are spoilt for choice in Paris. Many congregate around Gare du Nord in the hours before kick off for convenience, but after the game Montmartre is a worthy destination, civilised with some great restaurants. The flesh pots of Pigalle are situated nearby for the more adventurous.

* What to see: The grandeur of Paris remains breathtaking for first timers and veterans alike. Tourist staples such as Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur and the Palace of Versailles are breathtaking and well worth a visit. The Eiffel Tower is spectacular at night while a boat ride along the Seine is a must.

Croke Park Stadium
Dublin 3
Ireland
Telephone: 00353 (0)1 819 2300
Capacity: 82,300

How to get there:

By car: Croke Park is situated in the north Dublin neighbourhood of Drumcondra and is bordered by Jones's Road to the west, Clonliffe Road to the north, St. James Avenue to to the east and the Royal Canal to the south. The stadium is situated in a residential area with only limited parking available on match days

By rail: Both the DART and the LUAS networks provide an excellent service from many different parts of Dublin. In most cases parking is available at the various stations along the route. If using DART or LUAS - both bring you within easy walking distance of the stadium and both services can get you back to your car really swiftly. LUAS run additional services to facilitate events at Croke Park.

By bus: Dublin Bus offers a high frequency, accessible and easy to use service from all over Dublin.
While a number of the services will bring you quite close to the stadium many others will get you to the centre of the city which is also within a 15 minute walk of the stadium.

It may only be the temporary home of Irish rugby while Lansdowne Road is being redeveloped, but fans are in no hurry to leave the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Croke Park is a magnificent stadium steeped in history from the Irish War of Independence. When full and Ireland are firing, the stadium has the best atmosphere of all Six Nations venues. With a capacity of 82,505, it is the sixth largest sports stadium in Europe.

* Where to eat and drink: There are few places to recommend around Croke Park itself, so Ballsbridge - the setting for Lansdowne Road - remains the focal point for rugby fans in Dublin. Temple Bar is a colourful destination at night, if a little touristy, while elsewhere Dublin has a lively bar scene.

* What to see: For sports fans Croke Park is worth a visit outside of match days with the fascinating GAA museum offering an insight into Gaelic games. The Guinness brewery is always popular among the rugby fraternity while those of a more cultural leaning should head to the National Gallery and National Museum.

Viale Maresciallo Pilsudski
Rome
Italy
Telephone: 0039 063685 7832
Capacity: 25,000

How to get there:

By air - Scheduled flights land at Fiumicino (Leonardo Da Vinci) airport (06) 6595 3640/3088. To reach central Rome take either the shuttle train service to the main station, Stazione Termini or take a licensed taxi. Taxis are expensive and slow.

By train - most services will use Stazione Termini which is situated in central Rome close to the Piazza della Republica. From the railway station take the metropolitana to Flaminio Station and from there it's a short walk to the ground. Or you can take any tram or bus running via Flaminia and Viale Tiziano.

Italy's stirring performance in last year's Six Nations led to reports the sport's growing popularity could force a move to a bigger stadium. Rome's 82,922-capacity Stadio Olimpico was fancifully mooted as an alternative, although such talk quickly subsided, and Genoa emerged as a more likely destination for the future. The Stadio Flaminio has been undergoing reconstruction which led to fears last year that it might not be ready in time for the Six Nations. Although simple in design, the open bowl shape contributes to a rousing atmosphere when Italy are on top.

* Where to eat and drink: The Stadio Flaminio is situated in the north west of Rome on the Via Flaminia, which gets busy on match days with throngs of supporters crowding the bars, restaurants and cafes that start on the square and flank the road.

* What to see: The Colosseum is understandably the first stop for tourists visiting Rome, while the Pantheon and Vatican are also high up of the list for visitors. Rome's famous piazzas (squares) are also a must see.

Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield
Edinburgh
EH12 5PJ
Scotland
Telephone: +44(0)131 346 5000
Tickets: 0870 040 1925

Capacity:67,500

How to get there:

By rail: Waverley Station is about 15/20 minutes walk from the stadium. Haymarket Station is only 5/8 minutes walk from the ground. There is a regular bus service running between the ground and Waverley Station

By air: Edinburgh Airport is located just to the west of the city. It is within easy access to the country's main road network

The numbers visiting Murrayfield have declined in recent years, coinciding with the national team's slump in fortunes. But a renewed sense of optimism is creeping through Scottish rugby and with France and England visiting Edinburgh this year, there should be no problem filling all 67,500 seats. Murrayfield is a magnificent stadium - if only it was given something to celebrate once again.

* Where to eat and drink: Murrayfield sits to the west of the city centre and there are plenty of pubs and restaurants en route to the ground. At night the bars and clubs of Princes Street are an obvious destination for thirsty rugby fans.

* What to see: The imposing Edinburgh Castle sits at the top of the town and has great views to all sides. The Old Town is fascinating to stroll through while the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre is also popular among the rugby fraternity.

Millennium Stadium Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff
CF1 1JI
Wales
Telephone: +44(0)870 138600
Capacity: 72,500

How to get there:

By car: Cardiff is accessed by the M4

By rail: Cardiff Central has main line access to London Paddington in less than 2 hours and interconnection by Eurostar to Paris. British Rail enquiries +44 (0) 345 48 49 50

By air: Nearest airport: Wales International Airport is twenty minutes drive from Cardiff

Possibly the jewel in the Six Nations' crown, the Millennium Stadium is a magnificent ground that generates a level of noise rivalled only by Croke Park. Brilliantly designed and situated in the heart of Cardiff, it is a spectacular centre-piece for Welsh rugby. The only negative, though through no fault of its own, is the difficulty getting out of Cardiff - by car or train - after a match.

* Where to eat and drink: There are a host of rugby pubs close to the stadium while its situation in the city centre ensures there are no shortage of restaurants. However, the city tends to get a little rowdy in the evening after a match.

* What to see: Cardiff Castle tops a list of favourite destinations that includes Castell Coch and St Fagans National History Museum. But the city is also surrounded by some beautiful countryside which is worth exploring.