Cineworld Hertesmere Road in Tower Hamlets will show England matches live and in 3D. Photo: O2

A local cinema will take part in a sporting first when it screens England’s opening match of the Six Nations rugby tournament in February.

Visitors to Cineworld on Hertsmere Road in Tower Hamlets will be able to experience the excitement of the encounter with Wales in live 3D, the first time the medium has been used to show a sporting event in the UK.

The milestone will give supporters the chance to observe the rolling mauls and slamming scrums of the Twickenham pitch in fully-rounded form, as if they were at the west London venue in person.

40 cinemas across the country are streaming the match in live 3D to celebrate 100 years of rugby at Twickenham Stadium, an event set up by England Rugby sponsors O2.

It will kick off with England vs Wales on 6 February, with the England vs Ireland on February 27 also being shown.

An O2 spokesman said that the phone company “aims to make rugby accessible to everyone.”

RFU Business Operations Director Paul Vaughn said: “It’s a privilege to be involved with England Rugby and celebrate 100 memorable years.”

“I hope rugby fans will pack cinemas across the country to support the team and mark this milestone.”

The sponsor’s marketing director Sally Cowdry said: “With these screenings we’ll be using the latest technology to let thousands of fans across the country get closer to the action.”

The centenary year event succeeds the massive turn out at The O2 Arena in Greenwich on 20 October 2007, when 10,000 England-shirted supporters congregated to see South Africa beat their squad of heroes in France 15-6.

As well as the sight of Twickenham, fans visiting the Hertesmere Road cinema will experience its smell of as O2 customers can get a free pint with pre-bought tickets.

If you’re an O2 customer and you want to buy tickets go to http://www.o2blueroom.co.uk/3drugbylive