Bath Rugby have had "serious discussions" with Reading FC about using the League One club's Select Car Leasing Stadium for two Premiership fixtures during the 2026-27 season, according to Reading owner Rob Couhig. The move would allow redevelopment work to begin at Bath's Recreation Ground, with the club keen to accelerate the project so it is completed in time for the start of the 2028-29 Premiership campaign. Couhig said the stadium was well suited to hosting the games and that Reading would be "foolish" not to pursue the arrangement.

Bath's home games against Harlequins on 15 May and Saracens on 5 June are scheduled to move away from the Rec, with a potential home semi-final in June also affected if the club progresses that far. Couhig pointed to recent upgrades at the SCL Stadium, including new stands and a resurfaced pitch designed to recover quickly after rugby use, as key factors making a deal feasible, though he stressed Reading's football team would remain the "first priority tenant". The ground previously hosted London Irish rugby matches between 2000 and 2020, and Couhig said any revenue from a Bath agreement would be reinvested in Reading's football squad under salary cost management protocol rules. BBC Sport said it had contacted Bath for comment.