Bath in 'serious discussions' to play at Reading's Select Car Leasing Stadium

On 11 August 2026, Royals owner Rob Couhig said Bath have had "serious discussions" about playing two of their 2026-27 Prem home games at Reading's Select Car Leasing Stadium. Bath confirmed they will play their final two home games of the Prem season away from the Recreation Ground to enable construction work to begin as part of a redevelopment. BBC Sport has contacted Bath for comment.

Couhig, who took over as Reading owner in May 2025, said the League One club have held talks with Bath but would not disclose how far discussions have progressed. The Select Car Leasing Stadium was regularly used for rugby in the past, having been the home of London Irish between 2000 to 2020. Couhig pointed to a number of changes at the ground this summer, including work on the stands and a new pitch being laid.

Bath's matches against Harlequins on the weekend of 15 May and Saracens on 5 June are scheduled to be moved from the Recreation Ground. The club said that if they were to reach the Prem semi-finals and secure a home tie next June that fixture would also be played away from the Rec. Bath's owners have been accelerating the redevelopment timetable to try to have it completed for the start of the 2028-29 Prem campaign.

Couhig confirmed Reading had been in talks with Bath but declined to specify the stage of negotiations. He told BBC Radio Berkshire: "The stadium is well equipped for it, they would be foolish to not try and pursue us." He also said: "This pitch is built in a way that it could handle that and recover very quickly [from rugby]."

Couhig said any arrangement would be managed with Reading's football team as the priority. "Our football team is the first priority tenant and we would make sure it is handled the right way," he said. He added: "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."

Reading's final home game of the upcoming season is against Sheffield Wednesday on 1 May. They would be due to host another match that month if they reach the League One play-offs.