The Rugby Football Union has abandoned a radical bid to sell Twickenham and buy a 50% stake in Wembley from the Football Association, focusing instead on plans for a £663 million refurbishment of the existing stadium, the Guardian has revealed.
Twickenham has served as the home of English rugby since 1909, and while the RFU was formulating plans to renovate the stadium as part of its “masterplan programme”, the union’s board last year approved a recommendation to retain the “leave” option, but “with the FA postponement of official participation”.
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Match days at Twickenham generate 85% of the RFU’s revenue and the stadium has been described as “our cash cow” by the RFU’s chief executive Bill Sweeney in recent years. As a result, the RFU was reluctant to field England internationals elsewhere but a move to Wembley was part of the union’s “backup” option to its plans to overhaul Twickenham.
The Guardian has seen the RFU’s in-depth plans to regenerate Twickenham; The time between the end of the 2027 Six Nations and the start of next year’s championship has been identified as the preferred time to carry out the bulk of the work with minimal disruption. . However, this means the Red Roses’ matches and the men’s team’s World Cup friendly matches will have to be played elsewhere during this period.
Focusing on ownership, transport and user experience, the masterplan also references an earlier potential option to move to Wembley, where England hosted their previous match against Canada in 1992. Wales also used Wembley; In 2018, a £900 million offer from US billionaire Shahid Khan as a temporary base during the construction of the Principality Stadium. “The RFU is focused on continuing to improve Twickenham Stadium,” a spokesman for the union said. “Previous assessments of the feasibility of relocating to alternative sites were rejected.”
Although the RFU has estimated the cost of the overhaul at Twickenham at £663 million, it is accepted that this is unaffordable and more urgent work will be prioritized, with funding of around £300 million available. The figure of £663 million is considered illustrative and the intention is that the total costs will form a longer-term plan and further work will be carried out when union funding is available.
“Events held at Twickenham form a significant part of the RFU’s income and enable investment in the game at all levels, from community to elite,” the plans said. “Beyond its role as the RFU’s most visible presence and the home of England’s national rugby teams, this makes the stadium a critical financial driver to support the growth of the game and the delivery of the RFU’s ambitions for the sport from grassroots to elite level. .
“While the RFU has made significant investments to develop the stadium and ground, even in recent years its development has been completed without a comprehensive long-term strategy. This piecemeal approach has led to inefficiencies in operations, compliance, maintenance and, most importantly, fan experience perspectives.”
The work includes refurbishing each of the four stands, which will see the minimum capacity for rugby events reduced to 80,000, as well as relocating the stadium roof, car parks and RFU offices. The stadium is intended to be fully operational again by 2031.
The RFU is also trying to improve transport links due to numerous reports of over-reliance on Twickenham railway station and overcrowding chaos on match days. Among initiatives being considered to improve transport to and from matches, the RFU is exploring the use of riverboat services.
Writing in the RFU’s latest annual report, chief financial officer Sue Day outlined how such an overhaul of Twickenham was necessary to “protect future revenues needed to reinvest in the game”. But there is concern within the RFU that such lavish spending on the stadium will be seen as unwarranted at a time when professional and grassroots matches need investment.
An RFU spokesman added: “Our long-term masterplan for Twickenham Stadium is being developed to ensure England’s national rugby stadium remains up to date, complies with all relevant regulations, delivers the best possible experiences for fans and continues to generate income for reinvestment .to the community and the professional game.
“Work will be carried out over the next 12 months to assess future phase designs and assess what interventions could be made within the existing stadium site and when over the next 10 years. The RFU board has not agreed any new redevelopment plans. However, as you would expect, all options are on a long-term basis.” will be evaluated comprehensively as part of the strategy.
“As the plans are developed further, the RFU board and council will be fully consulted and involved in the due diligence and approval process, including possible sources of funding. “According to the RFU constitution, council members’ views and approval would be required if borrowing in excess of £150 million was required. “We do not expect major stadium work to start before 2027.”