The Rugby Football Union has confirmed plans to bring more major concerts to Allianz Stadium as part of proposals set to be submitted to Richmond Council in the coming weeks.

The RFU wants permission for a phased introduction of up to 15 major non-sporting events a year, including concerts, at the Twickenham stadium.

Under the plans, concerts would initially begin with a smaller number of lower-capacity events before increasing over time, subject to approval from Richmond Council, the Metropolitan Police and South Western Railway.

The governing body said the move could generate an extra £28.5 million a year for local businesses across Richmond and Hounslow, including pubs, restaurants, cafes and hotels.

The stadium currently contributes around £91 million annually to the local economy through rugby fixtures including the Six Nations Championship and autumn internationals.

The RFU also says the proposals could unlock more than £500 million of investment into rugby over the next five years, helping fund grassroots sport and stadium upgrades.

Residents living near the stadium would be offered priority ticket access, with 1,000 tickets for each concert made available through a dedicated pre-sale window.

A new facility fee would also be added to concert tickets, with at least £1 from every ticket going into a community fund expected to generate up to £1 million a year for local projects.

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The money would be overseen by a panel made up of community representatives, councillors, council officers and RFU members.

The proposals include a concert attendance cap of 75,000 on weekends, lower than the stadium's 82,000 rugby capacity, while additional rail services at Twickenham station are also planned for event days.

The RFU said concerts would mainly take place during a short summer period and largely at weekends to reduce pressure on local transport networks.

At present, Allianz Stadium is limited to just three major non-sporting events per year, with no consecutive event days and a crowd limit of 55,000.

By comparison, Wembley Stadium can host up to 54 non-sporting events annually, while Tottenham Hotspur Stadium can hold up to 30.

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said: "More concerts in Twickenham will generate tens of millions of pounds each year for the local and national economies, and hundreds more jobs here in south-west London.

"Bringing the world's biggest artists here to Twickenham will also secure the £500 million of funding we want to invest into rugby over the next five years."

The RFU has previously held exploratory talks over a possible relocation, with sites in Milton Keynes and Birmingham thought to have been discussed.

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The union's "Plan A", though, has always been to remain at a ground occupied by English rugby for more than 115 years.

Insurance giants Allianz agreed a 10-year naming rights sponsorship deal in 2024.

The RFU submitted similar plans last year, but the proposals were blocked by the council after hundreds of locals signed a petition against them.

Community update events will be held at the Clubhouse Bar & Kitchen inside Allianz Stadium on 19 and 20 May from 5pm to 7.30pm, where residents can find out more about the proposals.

READ MORE: The Lensbury launches three-month summer membership offer for locals.

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