London Irish secure Madejski deal

London Irish will play their home games at Reading's Madejski Stadium until 2026

London Irish will play their home games at Reading's Madejski Stadium until 2026. Irish and Reading have concluded a new agreement to cover the next 18 seasons which takes immediate effect.

Irish have seen their average attendance grow from 5,000 to more than 11,100 since moving first team games to the Madejski Stadium from its Sunbury base in 2000.

The Guinness Premiership's record crowd - 22,648 - watched Irish host Wasps in March last year.

London Irish chairman John Conlan said: "The Madejski Stadium is the finest club rugby stadium in Europe.

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"We are delighted with the progress we've made since moving there in 2000, and at the way the partnership has worked and developed between ourselves and Reading FC.

"This new contract consolidates that relationship and enables both clubs to plan ahead to their mutual benefit."

Reading chairman John Madejski added: "We've developed an extremely healthy, mutually-beneficial relationship, and look forward to continue hosting London Irish fixtures at Madejski Stadium.

"We benefit greatly from our association with one of the most professional and progressive rugby clubs in Europe, and we are very pleased to be able to make this announcement."

The Madejski Stadium opened in August 1998, costing more than £50 million, and was built on an old household waste dump site.

Development work is due to start later this year on increasing the existing 24,161 capacity. Planning permission was granted seven months ago that could raise it to 38,000.