Johnson – you felt his presence the entire game.
RFU chief Bill Sweeney has revealed he’s open to letting Premier League giants Chelsea play at Twickenham while Stamford Bridge undergoes a major redevelopment.
The bold move would see the 82,000-seater home of English rugby temporarily transformed into a football fortress – all in the name of revenue.
Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. ? Twickenham rent could rake in millions
Sweeney is determined to squeeze every penny out of the famous ground, which is currently limited to just three non-rugby events per year. Hosting Chelsea would be a game-changer financially – with the RFU eyeing a windfall similar to Tottenham’s lucrative Wembley stint from 2017 to 2019.
Speaking about the potential move, Sweeney said:
“It would be a big financial number. The licence would allow it to happen, and there have been conversations previously about possible Premier League clubs coming here.”
? But Richmond Council could be a party pooper
While the RFU is keen, Sweeney admitted the local council could block the Blues’ arrival. Richmond’s concerns centre on increased traffic, noise, and fan disruption in the area.
“Richmond Council is more concerned in terms of impact on local residents, numbers of fans and so on. They’re a little bit more sensitive.”
? Chelsea rebuild means temporary turf needed
With Todd Boehly's vision to expand Stamford Bridge from 42,000 to 60,000 seats, the West London club needs a temporary home – and Twickenham is being seriously considered.
If the move gets the green light, it would see stars like Cole Palmer running out under the posts instead of behind corner flags.
? Gigs, goals, and growing pains
The RFU is currently trying to loosen restrictions on hosting non-rugby events. Superstar Taylor Swift opted for Spurs’ stadium over Twickenham due to event limits – but Sweeney is pushing hard to change that.
“We’re making real progress with Richmond... We’ve just completed a survey of local residents and 75 per cent supported hosting more non-rugby events.”
?️ Twickenham’s £600m facelift still in play
While flirting with the idea of moving England’s HQ to the Midlands, Sweeney confirmed plans are still in motion to invest £600 million into upgrading Twickenham – keeping it as the spiritual home of English rugby.
“We’ve always said our preference was to remain here. Hospitality and ticketing are 50 per cent of our revenue – this is a really important part of the country to be in.”
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Ireland legend Paul O'Connell names his top 5 rugby players of all time
Now turning his attention to coaching, O’Connell recently looked back on his bruising career to reveal the five toughest opponents he ever faced – and some of the names will send chills down any forward’s spine.
? Victor Matfield – “He could destroy your lineout”
Position: Lock
Country: South Africa
Caps: 127
Matfield wasn’t just a brilliant second-row – he was a lineout surgeon. Awarded Man of the Match in the 2007 Rugby World Cup final, the Springbok was renowned for his athleticism, vision, and tactical nous.
“I tried not to fear any opponent,” O’Connell said. “But any international second-row will tell you that Matfield had the ability to destroy your lineout. He very rarely made any mistakes.”
? Jonny Wilkinson – “He could beat better teams on his own”
Position: Fly-half
Country: England
Caps: 91
Who else? Wilkinson’s iconic right-footed drop-goal sealed England’s 2003 World Cup win and cemented his status as one of the sport’s true greats. With 1,246 points to his name, only Dan Carter sits above him in Test rugby’s scoring charts.
“His drop goals, penalties, territorial kicking – it was so hard to get a foothold in the game. He could punish you from anywhere.”
? Martin Johnson – “He had a presence”
Position: Lock
Country: England
Caps: 83
A natural-born leader. Johnson captained the Lions to glory in 1997 and lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 2003. You didn’t just play against
“He was absolutely someone to be admired.”
? Jerry Collins – “He’d just destroy people”
Position: Flanker
Country: New Zealand
Caps: 48
No fluff here – O’Connell kept it short and brutal.
“He’d just destroy people!”
And honestly, that’s all that needed to be said about the late, great All Black enforcer.
? Bakkies Botha – The enforcer
Position: Lock
Country: South Africa
Caps: 85
A walking wrecking ball, Botha helped power the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2007 and then dominated Europe with Toulon, winning three Champions Cups.
