OXFORD Harlequins have plans to turn their home ground into a rugby hub as they set their sights on making a full return to Marston Ferry Road.

Quins’ first XV resumed playing matches back at their old base in September 2015 after spending seven years at North Hinksey Lane – the home of recently reformed Oxford.

The club began sharing the facilities at the Southern Bypass Ground when the City of Oxford Rugby Partnership was set up in 2006, and the first team matches were moved there two years later.

But the move back to Marston Ferry Road materialised after plans to merge the two clubs failed.

However, due to a lack of facilities, Quins still train at Hinksey, while their second and third teams regularly play at the Southern Bypass Ground.

Quins would like everything to be at Marston Ferry Road, but require floodlights, as well as an extension to the changing rooms and clubhouse to make it a reality.

All of that hinges on negotiations with Cherwell School who, as an academy, have the site on a 125-year lease from Oxfordshire County Council, on extending their stay beyond the current agreement of 2021.

Quins chairman Neil Hopper is hopeful of finalising the deal by the end of the season.

He said: “The full move is what we would like, that is the Utopia.

“For us to come back we would need the lease of 25 years so the RFU can then get involved facilities wise.

“We need secure tenure.”

He added: “In the next five years we would have an extra couple of changing rooms, clubhouse extended a bit and floodlights just to make it a proper rugby facility as opposed to what we have got at the moment.

“Everything is on this lease, without it we are treading water and waiting.”

Paul James, headteacher at Cherwell School, said: “The school has a positive relationship with Oxford Harlequins and we have started initial discussions concerning their lease beyond 2021.”