Hob Nob Anyone?

The Times reporting Bath likely to play a couple of end of season matches at the SCL due to imminent redevelopment of The Rec next summer.

https://x.com/willgkelleher/status/2086 ... 36c4Cd9nxQ

RG30 wrote: ↑10 Aug 2026 15:48 The Times reporting Bath likely to play a couple of end of season matches at the SCL due to imminent redevelopment of The Rec next summer.

https://x.com/willgkelleher/status/2086 ... 36c4Cd9nxQ

Let's hope the egg chasers don't fcuk up our very expensive new grass..........and that their fans don't spill Guinness by my seat (London Irish fans used to-what a waste!!)

Hopefully it won't affect us, apart from any potential play-off semi, as it will be 15 May (Bath v Harlequins) and 5 June (Bath v Saracens).

Makes perfect sense for Bath and a good income stream for two games.

Even if we make the play-offs, I'm sure there will be flexability as to when the Bath game is held - plenty of times when London Irish were here when we played Saturday and they Sunday.

No real concern about the pitch as certainly the final game is post season.

South Coast Royal wrote: ↑10 Aug 2026 15:54

RG30 wrote: ↑10 Aug 2026 15:48 The Times reporting Bath likely to play a couple of end of season matches at the SCL due to imminent redevelopment of The Rec next summer.

https://x.com/willgkelleher/status/2086 ... 36c4Cd9nxQ

Let's hope the egg chasers don't fcuk up our very expensive new grass..........and that their fans don't spill Guinness by my seat (London Irish fans used to-what a waste!!)

Here we go again the 30 fat blokes rolling about on the grass argument again A couple of games at the end of the season, before we get a Dooleys/Nolans (or whatever former megastars of the pop world) concert to totally wreck things) in the summer, should be manageable.

That’s all fine and dandy but one would have thought Bristol would have been the more logical option and not without suitably sized stadia.

Guess we’re more desperate for the pennies they’ll throw us.

Royal Ginger wrote: ↑10 Aug 2026 23:01 That’s all fine and dandy but one would have thought Bristol would have been the more logical option and not without suitably sized stadia.

Guess we’re more desperate for the pennies they’ll throw us.

Guess they didn’t want share with Bristol, and the Memorial Ground is maybe too small? But Swindon is less of a trek for their fans.

Royal Ginger wrote: ↑10 Aug 2026 23:01 That’s all fine and dandy but one would have thought Bristol would have been the more logical option and not without suitably sized stadia.

Guess we’re more desperate for the pennies they’ll throw us.

They're playing Harlequins (14–16 May) and Saracens (4–6 June), so perhaps it makes sense to use our ground as it would be convenient for both sets of supporters.

Don't know what this means financially for us. London Irish paid about £500k per season when they were in the Premiership (IIRC). Call it twenty-five games per season, so roughly £20k per match (notwithstanding any additional factors like having space in the megastore).

I imagine we'll be charging more than that now. Perhaps a fixed amount, plus a share of the ticket profits from the games?

Clyde1998 wrote: ↑11 Aug 2026 04:34

Royal Ginger wrote: ↑10 Aug 2026 23:01 That’s all fine and dandy but one would have thought Bristol would have been the more logical option and not without suitably sized stadia.

Guess we’re more desperate for the pennies they’ll throw us.

They're playing Harlequins (14–16 May) and Saracens (4–6 June), so perhaps it makes sense to use our ground as it would be convenient for both sets of supporters.

Don't know what this means financially for us. London Irish paid about £500k per season when they were in the Premiership (IIRC). Call it twenty-five games per season, so roughly £20k per match (notwithstanding any additional factors like having space in the megastore).

I imagine we'll be charging more than that now. Perhaps a fixed amount, plus a share of the ticket profits from the games?

Bath won't play in Bristol unless they have no choice, if they do come to us, it will be because they feel they can sell out (or get close to) - naturally, due to the relatively stupid structure of the PREM at the mo, every chance that both those games will mean nothing in terms of end of season, meaning relatively low crowds but if the games are played somewhere easily accessible for both sets of fans then that may negate that.

I would imagine the new owners have set up a set fee for hiring now, with a level of profit sharing too.

Given the timing of the games, its a win/win and if the pitch can't handle 2 rugby games at the end of the season, then I would have to question the quality of the pitch laid.

Couhig didn’t deny on Radio Berkshire talks had taken place.

South Coast Royal wrote: ↑10 Aug 2026 15:54

RG30 wrote: ↑10 Aug 2026 15:48 The Times reporting Bath likely to play a couple of end of season matches at the SCL due to imminent redevelopment of The Rec next summer.

https://x.com/willgkelleher/status/2086 ... 36c4Cd9nxQ

Let's hope the egg chasers don't fcuk up our very expensive new grass..........and that their fans don't spill Guinness by my seat (London Irish fans used to-what a waste!!)

Luckily rugby doesn’t really damage the pitches - watch any end of season games and the pitches are immaculate.
The season our pitch got trashed was partly down to the drainage and partly just general over use.
Will be good to have some top class rugby to watch again, must check the fixtures and hope they have Saints or Tigers.

Harlequins and Saracens would be the opponents (scheduled for mid May/early June).

London Irish played their home matches at the Madejski Stadium for 20 years, from 2000 until their relocation to West London in 2020.

Pretty shit times for the club IIRC, everything ruined by the pitch...

Uke wrote: ↑12 Aug 2026 11:31 London Irish played their home matches at the Madejski Stadium for 20 years, from 2000 until their relocation to West London in 2020.

Pretty shit times for the club IIRC, everything ruined by the pitch...

Thanks for letting us know. An interesting fact that most Reading fans wouldn't have known.

Brogue wrote: ↑12 Aug 2026 11:52

Uke wrote: ↑12 Aug 2026 11:31 London Irish played their home matches at the Madejski Stadium for 20 years, from 2000 until their relocation to West London in 2020.

Pretty shit times for the club IIRC, everything ruined by the pitch...

Thanks for letting us know. An interesting fact that most Reading fans wouldn't have known.

They can think about as they continue complaining about everything the owners do to make the club sustainable

Another fact you may be unaware of is that the owner at the time was SJM who had similar goals as our current crop regarding profitability