Guinness Premiership
Saracens consider Craven Cottage switch
Scrum.com
January 8, 2009
General view during the pre-season match between Fulham and Watford at Craven Cottage in London on July 10, 2004.
Could Saracens be calling Craven Cottage home by the 2010-11 season? © Getty Images
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Saracens are considering a groundshare deal with Fulham Football Club that would see both sides share the Craven Cottage stadium in central London.

The Premiership side, who have been based at Vicarage Road in Watford for the last 11 years, have reportedly opened talks with the Premier League club about a potential switch ahead of the 2010-11 season. A commercial desire to tap into the lucrative London market, relatively untouched by rugby's top flight, has been cited as the reason behind the proposed move with club officials hoping to double average attendances to 15,000.

"There is an opportunity for a Premiership rugby club in central London," a source close to the club told the Daily Mail. "We are looking at a number of options and Fulham is one. Pitch technology has improved beyond all recognition in recent years so that ought not to be an issue. It's a question of whether we can come to an agreement, although Fulham is not the only show in town."

Wasps' move to Adams Park in High Wycombe and London Irish's switch to the Madejski Stadium in Reading left Twickenham-based Harlequins as the only Premiership side in London.

Saracens were recently bolstered by a reported £8million investment from a South African company headed by billionaire Johann Rupert and are reportedly lining up high-profile loan deals with Springboks Schalk Burger and Bryan Habana.

Other rugby-football ground shares: (Source: Daily Mail)

Fulham Rugby League club at Craven Cottage - 1980-84
Cardiff Blue Dragons Rugby League club at Ninian Park 1981-85
Richmond at the Madejski Stadium, Reading - 1998-99
London Irish at the Madejski Stadium - 2000-
Wasps at Loftus Road - 1996-2002
Wasps at Adams Park - 2002-
Bristol at the Memorial Ground - 1996-
Newcastle at Gateshead Stadium - 1998-99
Sale at Edgeley Park - 2002-

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