Plans have been unveiled to build a new South Stand at Twickenham and provide a four-star hotel, conference exhibition and banqueting spaces, a health and fitness club, and a 400-seat peforming arts centre for local community use.
Despite opposition to the project from local residents, the RFU insists that the building of the new stadium would not only greatly enhance the local economy, but would also rescue rugby from a financial crisis.
"Rugby is becoming too dependent on television revenues. This will diversify those revenues," the RFU's chief executive Francis Baron said.
Baron also insisted that there are no plans to use the stadium as a football pitch.
"We haven't received such a request from the FA and we are making no plans for anything other than rugby being played at the stadium."
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