RFU mulled Twickenham sale
Plan to buy 50 per cent of Wembley in ‘leave’ proposal Favoured ‘stay’ option could lead to 2027 redevelopment
The Rugby Football Union considered selling Twickenham and buying 50 per cent of Wembley Stadium, leaked documents have revealed.
This radical move, part of a “leave” option explored by the RFU, would have been as an alternative to undergoing a £663 million redevelopment detailed in a 69-page blueprint entitled Twickenham Stadium Masterplan Programme, seen by Telegraph Sport.
The masterplan is a wide-ranging renovation project, known as the “stay” option, which has been designated as the “preferred way forward [PWF]” after the union decided against moving to Wembley last summer.
“The Masterplan Programme team has focused efforts on developing the PWF ‘stay’ option and as such not sought to advance the ‘leave’ option, whereby the RFU would explore the potential to dispose of Twickenham Stadium and purchase a 50 per cent share of Wembley Stadium,” reads the masterplan.
“This was based on a board-approved recommendation (March 2023) to retain the ‘leave’ option as a reserve, but defer formal engagement with the Football Association and financial investment until further feasibility clarity is obtained with the ‘stay’ option and licensing authority views.”
While the report adds that the £663 million redevelopment is currently deemed “unaffordable”, it does state that essential works will be prioritised to the cost of around £300million in available financing.
Any loan of more than £150 million would need prior approval from the RFU Council. The masterplan encompasses work on all four stands as well as on the roof and the surrounding car parks. The RFU’S offices would also be relocated.
A 10-month window between the 2027 and the 2028 Six Nations tournaments, given a lack of autumn internationals in 2027 because of the men’s World Cup that year, has been highlighted as a potential window for construction. The masterplan suggests England women’s internationals during that period would be taken “fully on the road”, while World Cup warm-up matches would be toured around the country.
A statement from the RFU explained that the next year would be critical to organising the next steps. “Our long-term masterplan for Twickenham Stadium is being developed to ensure England’s national rugby stadium stays up to date, is compliant with all relevant regulations, provides the best possible experiences for fans, and continues to generate revenue for reinvestment into the community and professional game,” said a spokesperson. “Work will be undertaken over the next 12 months to consider next stage designs. We do not anticipate major stadium works starting before 2027.”
Leaving HQ for Wembley
The “leave” option is off the table, the report says, with the Masterplan Programme team no longer seeking to advance the possibility where “the Rugby Football Union would explore the potential to dispose of Twickenham Stadium and purchase a 50 per cent share of Wembley Stadium”.
Even so, the logistical and historical ramifications of such a move are fascinating, including the mere notion of the RFU selling up and moving away from the plot of land it purchased in 1907 for £5,500, 12 shillings and sixpence – which is around £432,000 in today’s money.
To have permanently moved English rugby around 11 miles north would have been truly extraordinary, even before the Football Association had considered the possibility of sharing the home of English football.
£663million plan to stay
Instead the RFU has opted for the “stay” option, which is not cheap, even acknowledging that the full “preferred way forward” (PWF) is “unaffordable”.
Instead “a prioritisation exercise” is to be introduced “to identify the first phase of interventions that are affordable and deliver the greatest commercial and experience value and return to the RFU”, with Ernst & Young identifying that there is available financing of “up to £296.5 million” for phase one of any work.
An overall costing estimate for the report provided by consultancy business Turner and Townsend brings the total of all the proposed work to £663million.
Just under £385million of that estimate is devoted to construction costs, with work planned on the stadium’s roof and bowl, all four stands and external areas. The most expensive area is estimated to be the West Stand.
A bullet-point list of “key target priorities” includes: Minimum 80,000 capacity in rugby mode; maximising capacity in concert mode; significantly increasing number of non-rugby events each year; hospitality provision to remain at around 10,500 (of which around 8,500 are in lounge style); debenture provision to remain at around 15,000; average minimum spatial allowances of 0.37m2/person (seat space); increased concourse space to achieve a minimum of 0.3m2/person in general admission area.
River boats and driverless pods to boost failing transport
Whichever team you might have attended Twickenham to support, the great unifying factor has always been universal frustration with a transport system around Twickenham station.
A detailed report has now been commissioned “on a more strategic change to Twickenham’s serving transport”, focused on “a more sustainable and resilient transport approach to reduce the risk and reliance on Twickenham mainline rail station”.
There are plans for alternate walking routes and e-scooters, then river services – “although not expected to provide high capacity, could be pursued to provide a highquality fan experience” – and potentially redesigning or remodelling the A316 roundabout.
Some suggestions hinge on the proposed launch by Transport for London of the new West London Orbital station before 2030. The most eye-catching proposal, however, is for driverless pods taking fans to Twickenham, although the report does not provide any detail on how they would function.
Diversity and introduction of baby-changing facilities
Significantly improving the provision of female toilets is among the planned works, moving the current percentages from 90 per cent male and 10 per cent female to 65:35.
Improving accessibility and inclusion is a priority, with “the principal issue” being “the location of wheelchair positions within the bowl for viewing the match” with “most of the wheelchair seating is at ground floor (level 1) along the edges of the pitch”. Those positions are uncovered so do not follow Green Guide recommendations for disabled seating to be protected from adverse weather. The lack of disabled parking is also noted.
In addition there are plans for sensory rooms, faith rooms, babychanging facilities – there are currently none at the stadium, with one set to be introduced by the end of the next financial year – lowered counters at concessions and hearing loops at points of contact.
Temporary move away from HQ
Regarding when works might take place, the gap between the 2027 and 2028 Six Nations has been targeted given the lack of autumn internationals because of the 2027 World Cup. Matches for the Red Roses’ and men’s warm-up games for the World Cup, described as “events with lower commercial value”, would therefore be taken on the road. Moving those games around the country would be a positive move for growing the game.
The report finally notes that “all prioritised PWF interventions will be completed and operational by 2031”.