Best rugby union stadiums in the world
For many rugby fans, there’s very little more exciting than the buzz of attending a match on a Saturday afternoon.
You’re on your way to the ground, you can feel the buzz of anticipation in the air. Maybe you’ll stop off for a quick pint before the game, and maybe you’ll visit the trusty burger van to fill yourself ready for the next couple of hours.
Once the classic pre-game ritual is complete, it’s time to make your way to the ground.
There are many fantastic grounds around the world, many beautiful scenic views, and some with phenomenal atmospheres.
Liverugbytickets.co.uk have conducted research aimed at identifying the rugby stadiums fans are most – and least – satisfied with. The study involved content analysis of over 15,000 TripAdvisor reviews for 40 different stadiums.
Let’s have a look at their top 10 findings:
10) Franklins Gardens – Northampton, England – 7.4/10
The Northampton Saints have been a hugely successful premiership rugby team since its introduction, no doubt due to the incredible atmosphere in the stadium.
Despite being renovated numerous times, due to its poor cleanliness rating the age-old stadium finds itself just hanging on to the top 10.
9) Thomond Park – Limerick, Ireland – 7.4/10
Thomand Park is famously known for its terrific atmosphere during Munster home games. What it’s not quite so well known for is its quality of food. This is all set to change as the Munster faithful have given the stadium an almighty rating for the matchday grub.
This classic stadium would have been higher up this list if it wasn’t for their poor performance under the affordability section.
8) AAMI Park – Melbourne, Australia – 7.5/10
Home of the Melbourne Rebels, a club founded only in 2010, they were the first privately owned professional rugby union team in Australia.
This beautiful stadium is used not just for rugby, but also for football matches and concerts. A very picturesque stadium, it’s highly rated in terms of cleanliness as well as how surprisingly affordable it is.
7) Sixways Stadium – Worcester, England – 7.6/10
A premiership minnow, Worcester Warriors had amassed a huge and loyal fanbase over the years, ones which could be heard during match days as far as neighbouring town Droitwich Spa.
Being a newer club to the premiership, Sixways had managed to keep its prices down, as well as being able to provide top-tier food for those eager onlookers.
6) Allianz Park – London, England – 7.7/10
One of the few stadiums in world rugby to have adopted the new 4G synthetic pitch.
Despite being a reported nightmare to play on, the 4G pitch certainly allows for some incredibly fast-paced rugby, which certainly gets the Saracens crowd roaring as their team challenges for title after title.
As well as the atmosphere, Allianz Park was given credit huge credit for the food provided. Affordability and cleanliness were certainly no strong points for this stadium, however.
5) Twickenham Stoop – Twickenham, England – 7.9/10
Situated right opposite the world-famous Twickenham Stadium, the Stoop is home to the colourful Harlequins.
Despite being located so close to London, The Stoop was most highly rated based upon the affordability of ticket prices.
4) Sandy Park – Exeter, England – 7.9/10
Arguably one of the windiest grounds in the world, the Exeter Chiefs have made this ground their own since moving over from the County Ground in 2006.
Sandy Park has made its way toward the top of this list based primarily on the affordability of their tickets.
3) Parc Y Scarlets – Llanelli, Wales – 8.0/10
Despite performing poorly in terms of atmosphere, the Parc Y Scarlets hit the heights in terms of their food.
Home of the Llanelli Scarlets, this Welsh haven is sure to keep the stomachs of those spectators full and satisfied.
2) Welford Road – Leicester, England – 9.0/10
Home of arguably the most successful English side in history, Welford Road has become a fortress for Leicester Tigers.
This stadium was highly rated across the board, but most notably involved the cleanliness of the place as well as the quality of the food.
1) Recreation Ground – Bath, England – 9.5/10
Arguably the most scenic professional stadium in world rugby, the Rec as it’s commonly known to their fans is set in the idyllic city of Bath. The stadium supplies views of the historic Bath Abbey, as well as being set right next to the picturesque Wier on the River Avon.
Despite having very limited seating, with arguably obscured views, the Rec has reached number 1 on our list due to the atmosphere, cleanliness, and affordability.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments