RFU chief Bill Sweeney has revealed he’s open to letting Premier League giants Chelsea play at Twickenham while Stamford Bridge undergoes a major redevelopment.
The bold move would see the 82,000-seater home of English rugby temporarily transformed into a football fortress – all in the name of revenue.
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💰 Twickenham rent could rake in millions
Sweeney is determined to squeeze every penny out of the famous ground, which is currently limited to just three non-rugby events per year.
Hosting Chelsea would be a game-changer financially – with the RFU eyeing a windfall similar to Tottenham’s lucrative Wembley stint from 2017 to 2019.
Speaking about the potential move, Sweeney said:
“It would be a big financial number. The licence would allow it to happen, and there have been conversations previously about possible Premier League clubs coming here.”
🏠 But Richmond Council could be a party pooper
While the RFU is keen, Sweeney admitted the local council could block the Blues’ arrival. Richmond’s concerns centre on increased traffic, noise, and fan disruption in the area.
“Richmond Council is more concerned in terms of impact on local residents, numbers of fans and so on. They’re a little bit more sensitive.
🧱 Chelsea rebuild means temporary turf needed
With Todd Boehly’s vision to expand Stamford Bridge from 42,000 to 60,000 seats, the West London club needs a temporary home – and Twickenham is being seriously considered.
If the move gets the green light, it would see stars like Cole Palmer running out under the posts instead of behind corner flags.
🎤 Gigs, goals, and growing pains
The RFU is currently trying to loosen restrictions on hosting non-rugby events. Superstar Taylor Swift opted for Spurs’ stadium over Twickenham due to event limits – but Sweeney is pushing hard to change that.
“We’re making real progress with Richmond… We’ve just completed a survey of local residents and 75 per cent supported hosting more non-rugby events.”
🏗️ Twickenham’s £600m facelift still in play
While flirting with the idea of moving England’s HQ to the Midlands, Sweeney confirmed plans are still in motion to invest £600 million into upgrading Twickenham – keeping it as the spiritual home of English rugby.
“We’ve always said our preference was to remain here. Hospitality and ticketing are 50 per cent of our revenue – this is a really important part of the country to be in.”
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Four player who won’t play for England again under Borthwick
Here are five players who look unlikely to wear an England shirt again while Borthwick remains in charge.
1. George Ford
The omission of Ford wasn’t subtle.
After back-to-back defeats to Ireland and Scotland, Borthwick didn’t rotate his senior fly-half — he removed him entirely. With Fin Smith handed the reins and the coaching staff doubling down on a refreshed backline, it signalled a strategic shift rather than a temporary tweak.
Ford has been one of England’s most dependable operators over the last decade. But international rugby moves fast, and World Cup cycles move faster. At 30+, he now looks like yesterday’s solution to tomorrow’s problem in the eyes of the current regime.
Could he return in a crisis? Possibly. But coaches rarely pivot away from an established No.10 this decisively unless they’re planning long-term.
Right now, it feels like the page has turned.
