Embattled RFU CEO Bill Sweeney says he would consider moving the home of English rugby from London.
The RFU wants Richmond Borough Council regulations, which allow 82,000-capacity Twickenham to host just three non-rugby events a year with a crowd of 55,000, to be changed.
The RFU wants the council to increase the number of annual non-rugby events that Twickenham can host to 15 with a full stadium capacity, which would enable the RFU to pay for its planned stadium upgrades.
Sweeney – facing a vote of no confidence at a special general meeting of the RFU next week, a motion brought by over 100 RFU member clubs and referee societies –said that leaving Twickenham would be a “tough call” and “very difficult”, but he would be open to it.
“There are plenty of places that would like to have us. Birmingham, Milton Keynes would love to have us there,” Sweeney told the Business of Sport podcast.
“Part of the renovation from 2027 means we are in discussions with Richmond Borough Council to stage more non-rugby events. We could have had [American singer] Beyonce but she wanted three nights and we are only allowed two nights consecutively.
“We are saying: If we are going to invest £600-million into the Allianz [Twickenham] – and we have a study which shows how much economic value it contributes to the borough – you are going to have to work with us in terms of an increase in the number of events we can stage in order to monetise the stadium.
“I don’t know how we would justify the investment in the stadium if we can’t get the increase in the event licences.”
ALSO: British & Irish Lions lock in ninth tour fixture
Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
The post England to ditch Twickenham? appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
