The Rugby Football Union (RFU) say they are open to the idea of Chelsea using Twickenham Stadium as a temporary home, should the Premier League club go ahead with major redevelopment work at Stamford Bridge.
RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney confirmed that the proposal is not off the table, but would face a number of logistical and regulatory hurdles, such as obtaining approval from the local authorities.
“It would allow it to happen, there have been conversations previously about possible Premiership clubs coming here,” Sweeney said. “Richmond council, Richmond borough is more concerned about that.”
Chelsea had previously identified the 82,000-seat venue as a potential short-term solution, particularly during earlier stadium redevelopment discussions in 2017.
Before any agreement could be reached, the RFU would need to amend its current policy restricting the number of non-rugby events at Twickenham.
At present, the stadium is only permitted to host three events annually, with attendance capped at 55,000.
Twickenham, the home of… football?! 😳
RFU CEO Bill Sweeney has hinted at the possibility of Chelsea playing there whilst Stamford Bridge undergoes a major rebuild. 🤯
However, he's also admitted that the local council might not be as open to the idea. 🚫 pic.twitter.com/tTokiD9svK
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) April 29, 2025
Sweeney added: “I just think in terms of impact on local residents, numbers of fans and so on they’re a little bit more sensitive.
“It may depend on which club it is. It would be a big financial number, I know Richmond borough would have a conversation about that though.”
If Chelsea do opt for Twickenham as a stopgap venue, it could offer a timely revenue boost to the RFU. The governing body reported record financial losses last year and a high-profile ground-share deal could help offset some of those challenges.
Hosting a major Premier League team would also align with the RFU’s ambition to broaden Twickenham’s usage beyond rugby.
