Latest news from Loughborough University

10 Sep 2015

Loughborough Rugby launch new 3G pitch

Loughborough Students Rugby Football Club’s (LSRFC) chances of improving on last season’s 12th place finish in National League 1 have been given a timely boost with the installation of a stunning new artificial playing surface on their first XV pitch.

Installed by SIS Pitches, the pitch features an immaculate green carpet finish, new posts and improved crowd hosting facilities. Meticulously constructed over the past three months, the pitch is ready to welcome local rivals Coventry this Saturday 12th September, Loughborough’s first home game of the season.

The Rugger 65 artificial grass surface, designed and installed by SIS Pitches, is the same as seen at Saracen’s Allianz Stadium as well as at Kingston Park, the home of Newcastle Falcons. SIS also supplies similar pitches to other high profile sports teams including Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid.

The special yarn used on the top layer offers optimum pile recovery and resilience, with glass fibre reinforcement for durability, which will substantially increase playing time on the First XV pitch. At the same time, player comfort is a key factor and special additives are used to provide softness to prevent player abrasion, with maintenance to be performed by SIS Pitches to ensure the new surface stays in peak condition.

Dr Paul Fleming, who is an expert in artificial surfaces, commented:

“Artificial turf technology has reached a high quality for player performance, comfort and durability, when maintained correctly through their life. The similar SIS system installed at Saracens was scrutinised carefully as might be expected at professional level and the feedback has been very positive. The sports surface research team here at Loughborough will be monitoring this additional new facility over the coming seasons alongside the several other high quality artificial pitches on the campus.”

Meanwhile Director of Rugby Dave Morris added:

“The new artificial surface should suit our style of rugby as the pitch is fast and very consistent in terms foot placement and the way the ball reacts, regardless of the weather. In a wider context across campus, the pitch can now be used extensively, much to the benefit of players across the whole spectrum of rugby.

“Our first game on this pitch in the RFU National League is this Saturday against Coventry, and we’re excited to be bringing a game that involves local bragging rights onto our new pitch.”  

As the first university side ever to be admitted to the RFU National League, and with the clubs centenary just four years away, the new pitch should see Loughborough into a bright future.

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR 15/171

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world, and was named University of the Year in the What Uni Student Choice Awards 2015.Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. It was 2nd in the 2015 THE Student Experience Survey and was named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. Loughborough University London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.

Contact for all media enquiries

Pete Matthews
PR Officer for Sport
Loughborough University
P.W.Matthews@lboro.ac.uk
01509 228686