A Decade of Partnership: SIS Pitches Delivers New 3G Rugby Surface at Loughborough University

SIS Pitches recently completed the resurfacing of a World Rugby-standard 3G pitch for long-term partner Loughborough University – a leading sporting institution and one of the UK’s top universities for rugby development and performance.

This project continues a relationship spanning more than a decade, which began with the installation of SIS Pitches’ own Rugger 65 synthetic surface at the same site. Since then, we’ve delivered a wide range of high-performance sports surfaces across campus, including installations for cricket, football, American football, hockey, MUGAs, and more, supporting Loughborough’s commitment to elite-level sporting infrastructure.

The original 3G pitch build in 2015 was the first project SIS Pitches delivered for Loughborough University, constructed as a full new-build installation. A decade later, the university returned to SIS Pitches to resurface the same full-size, World Rugby-compliant 3G pitch, ensuring it continues to meet the highest standards for elite-level rugby performance.

One of the unique challenges at this site is the intensity of use and open-access nature of the facility. Students frequently use the surface throughout the day, both in formal training sessions and casual use, placing consistent pressure on the surface. With that in mind, the university selected SIS Grass Xtreme Ultra 60mm, our leading synthetic rugby surface, manufactured in our UK facility and designed for high-performance, high-use environments.

The installation was carefully coordinated around on-campus graduation events, with our team temporarily pausing work to accommodate the university’s schedule without disruption. This collaborative approach ensured the project remained on track while fully respecting the university’s wider operations.

Loughborough University is globally recognised as one of the world’s leading sporting universities, renowned for its elite athlete programmes and state-of-the-art multi-sport facilities. The university has produced some of the UK’s top student-athletes and continues to invest in long-term infrastructure to support success at both domestic and international levels. In the 2024 Paris Summer Games, athletes affiliated with Loughborough University secured an impressive 35 medals. The university is also home to Loughborough Lightning, who compete at the highest level of rugby in England, underscoring the calibre of athletes who train and study on campus.

The newly resurfaced rugby pitch couldn’t have come at a better time, showcasing its quality when the US Women’s Rugby team chose it for a training session in the lead-up to the Rugby World Cup tournament.  Across their two weeks at Loughborough University, the team also benefited from the wider range of world-class sporting facilities before heading into competition. This highlights not only the standard of the new surface, but also the University’s reputation as a premier destination for elite teams seeking high-performance training environments.

This latest project reinforces SIS Pitches’ decade-long role as a trusted sports surface partner for Loughborough University. Over the years, we’ve delivered a wide range of synthetic and hybrid surfaces across campus, and continue to provide single source support, from initial design and construction to resurfacing, upgrades, and ongoing care.

The new surface brings renewed performance to one of the world’s leading university sporting programmes, supporting high-intensity training and competitive match play while meeting the most rigorous quality standards.

Despite the consistently high daily usage, the new 3G rugby pitch will deliver long-term durability and performance, a reflection of the quality of our UK-manufactured systems, expert installation teams, and the strength of our long-standing partnership with the university.