Twickenham’s World Rugby Museum will be “upgraded” and “modernised”, and is due to reopen during the winter of 2017/18.

The current museum – situated in the stadium’s East Stand – will be closed on 1 March 2017 following the conclusion of the Six Nations.

It will be moved to Twickenham’s South Stand and completely revamped, making it “more interactive than before”.

The new gallery will also feature “more than three times” as many objects as it does currently.

Phil McGowan, the museum’s curator, said: “The cutting edge museum will be bigger, better and brighter.

“It will house the world’s most prestigious collection of rugby memorabilia. It will include commentary, film and match footage from the most iconic moments, memorable tours and greatest players in the history of what is the world’s most dramatic team sport.”

He added: “It will also include purpose-built events, education and research facilities and invite visitors to engage in the game with exciting hands-on interactive exhibits.”

The attraction was launched as the Museum of Rugby in 1996 before being renamed in 2008.