Stadiums, clubhouses and pitches across the world have never looked to tidy, clean and have cracking grass growth, but that’s sh*t when we’re not allowed near them. So, it got us thinking…prior to lockdown, which are the best pitches and stadiums to play at in the UK and Ireland?
Not wanting to compile the list ourselves, we enlisted the help from our mates at Bath Rugby and who better to give us their expert opinion but NEAL HATLEY (Forwards and Defence Coach at Bath Rugby) and LUKE CHARTERIS (Line-out Coach at Bath Rugby).
With score cards at the ready, we asked Neil and Luke to pick their top 3 stadiums each, and then rate the newness, pitch, facilities, clubhouse and home team out of 10, the results are as follows…
1. Twickenham (London)
Capacity: 82,000
Owned by the governing body of rugby union in England, the Rugby Football Union (RFU), the stadium hosts home test matches for the England national rugby union team.
Neal said “a full Twickenham can’t be beaten, especially during the anthems.”
- Newness 8/10
- Pitch 10/10
- Facilities 10/10
- Clubhouse 10/10
- Home team 10/10
- Total: 48/50
2. Principality Stadium (Cardiff, Wales)
Capacity: 74,500
The Millennium Stadium, known since 2016 as the Principality Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is the national stadium of Wales. Located in Cardiff, it is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and has also held Wales national football team games.
- Newness 9/10
- Pitch 6/10
- Facilities 10/10
- Clubhouse 9/10
- Home team 10/10
- Total: 44/50
3. Thomond Park (Limerick, Ireland)
Capacity: 25,600
Thomond Park is owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union and has Munster Rugby, Shannon RFC and UL Bohemian RFC as tenants.
- Newness 8/10
- Pitch 7/10
- Facilities 7/10
- Clubhouse 9/10
- Home team 7/10
- Total: 38/50
4. Franklins Gardens (Northampton)
Capacity: 15,249
Franklin’s Gardens is the home stadium of Northampton Saints. It comprises of four stands: Carlsberg Stand; Elite Insurance Stand; Church’s Stand; and Barwell Stand.
- Newness 7/10 – it has an old school charm to it though
- Pitch 8/10
- Facilities 7/10
- Clubhouse 8/10
- Home team 7/10
- Total: 37/50
5. The Recreation Ground (Bath)
Capacity: 14,509
A town team with an old school feel to it on a professional era. Especially cool for night games. Right in the middle of the town and the crowd feel right on top of you.
- Newness 5/10 – it has an old school charm to it though
- Pitch 5/10 in the winter 10/10 in the summer
- Facilities 6/10
- Clubhouse 7/10
- Home team 10/10
- Total: 33/50
