READING are in talks to host rugby union team Bath as part of a groundshare.
Bath are set to play their final two home games of the 2026/27 Prem season away from the Recreation Ground to allow for a redevelopment to begin.
Reading are in talks to share the Select Car Leasing Stadium with Bath Credit: PA
Bath’s Recreation Ground is set to undergo a redevelopment Credit: Getty
A spokesperson from the rugby union side explained: “Discussions with a number of venues are still ongoing and we will confirm our alternative location in due course.”
Reading owner Rob Couhig has confirmed that talks over sharing the Select Car Leasing Stadium have taken place, but did not say how far they have progressed.
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The American businessman told BBC Radio Berkshire: “Discussions with a number of venues are still ongoing and we will confirm our alternative location in due course.”
Bath’s games against Harlequins on the weekend of May 15 and Saracens on June 5 are scheduled to be moved.
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And if the team were to reach the Prem semi-finals and get a home fixture next June, that would also be played away from the stadium.
On the state of the pitch at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, Couhig added: “This pitch is built in a way that it could handle that and recover very quickly.
“Our football team is the first priority tenant and we would make sure it is handled the right way.”
He went on to say that any money generated from the move would be reinvested into Reading.
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The Recreation Ground redevelopment is currently scheduled to be completed for the start of the 2028/29 season Credit: Getty
Couhig said: “Let’s say we did something with Bath Rugby, then we’d be allowed additional money under the SCMP [salary cost management protocol] to spend on our football players.”
Meanwhile, Bath owners have said that plans to redevelop the Recreation Ground have been accelerated.
The redevelopment is currently scheduled to be completed for the start of the 2028/29 season.
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