Bath Rugby's home matches against Harlequins on 15 May and Saracens on 5 June are scheduled to be relocated, with a potential home semi-final also set to be played away from the Rec, as the club's owners accelerate redevelopment plans intended to be finished before the start of the 2028-29 Premiership season.
Bath Rugby in talks to use Reading's SCL Stadium while Rec undergoes redevelopment
Bath Rugby's home matches against Harlequins on 15 May and Saracens on 5 June are scheduled to be relocated, with a potential home semi-final also set to be played away from the Rec, as the club's owners accelerate redevelopment plans intended to be finished before the start of the 2028-29 Premiership season.
Reading's SCL Stadium has previously hosted rugby, serving as the home ground of London Irish from 2000 to 2020.
Reading's final scheduled home football match of the upcoming season is against Sheffield Wednesday on 1 May, though the club could host an additional fixture that month if it reaches the League One play-offs.
Reading owner Couhig pointed to upgrades carried out at the SCL Stadium over the summer — including work to the stands and the laying of a new pitch — as factors that could make an arrangement with Bath workable.
Couhig stated that the new pitch was constructed in a manner that would allow it to recover quickly from rugby use, and that the football club would remain the priority tenant.
He added that any revenue generated from such an arrangement would be reinvested in the football squad, and that under the salary cost management protocol, additional spending on players would be permitted as a result.
- Whether a formal agreement between Bath Rugby and Reading has been reached or signed
- The financial terms or value of any potential arrangement
- Who specifically at Bath Rugby is involved in or has confirmed the negotiations
- Whether the Premiership or relevant governing bodies have approved the fixture relocations
- The full scope and cost of the Rec redevelopment project
- Reading's current League One standing or likelihood of reaching the play-offs