Bristol in talks with the Dragons

Guinness Premiership side Bristol could share Rodney Parade with Magners League side the Dragons next season.

Guinness Premiership side Bristol could share Rodney Parade with Magners League side the Dragons next season.

Bristol's own ground, the Memorial Ground, is being redeveloped next year but reports from BBC Wales Sport suggest talks are being held between the two sides.

Rodney Parade, owned by the Dragons, is also set to be redeveloped in a £40 million facelift, and both the Dragons and Newport RFC have been told they will need to vacate Rodney Parade during the building phase.

The Rodney Parade redevelopment is expected to start in 2009 and be open for the start of the 2010/11 season before Newport hosts the 2010 Ryder Cup.

But the work will take place in such a way that it allows rugby to be played at the ground.

The Memorial Ground's £36m redevelopment, which will transform the ground into an all-seater 18,500-capacity arena, is expected to be completed in December 2009.

Bristol City's Ashton Gate football ground has staged rugby games in recent years and is also an option for Bristol Rugby.

“Any ground-sharing would have to be for around 18 months and we are still talking to a number of parties but nothing has been signed as yet,” said a Bristol spokesman.

Bristol Rugby are now tenants of the ground they once owned.

League One football side Bristol Rovers, who moved to The Memorial Stadium in 1996, bought the ground in 1998 when the rugby club were in financial difficulties.