Saracens Install Game-Changing Rugby Field

The Client - Saracens

Saracens Rugby Union Club is based at Allianz Park, the reigning Aviva Premiership and European Rugby Champions Cup holders.

The Background

Saracens required an upgrade to their existing synthetic pitch at Allianz Park. Installed 3½ years earlier by SIS Pitches, the original field had supported over 350 matches, approximately 7,750 hours of community use, and almost half a million spectators. The goal was to provide a new advanced surface for top-level rugby while maintaining the community accessibility central to the club’s ethos.

The Brief

The project involved replacing the synthetic field with a new surface that met World Rugby’s performance standards. The new system needed improved drainage, reduced compaction, and a fast, safe playing surface suitable for professional and community use.

What We Did

SIS Pitches carried out the following works:

Installed a new SIS Grass Synthetic system at Allianz Park, making it the heaviest synthetic rugby field in Europe at 38kg per m².
A larger-sized recycled infill was incorporated to enhance drainage and reduce compaction.
Carefully lifted the existing field to be reused elsewhere.

The Outcome

The new surface successfully met the Saracens’ professional rugby fixtures’ and extensive community programmes’ needs Richard Gregg, Stadium Director at Saracens, commented:

“Whilst our priority is to provide the best possible playing surface for our home Aviva Premiership Rugby and European fixtures (which the SIS Grass Synthetic surface allows us to do), Saracens has always been known for its community focus. Having the SIS Grass Synthetic field helps us provide users, young and old, from our community, access to the facility and surface for their training and fixtures. The aim is to embrace the community and encourage a sense of affiliation to Saracens, something the SIS Grass Synthetic field is a huge part of.”

Richard Gregg, Stadium Director, Saracens

Bryn Lee, Managing Director at SIS Pitches, added:

“We’re delighted to work with the best Rugby Union team in Europe. Since the first surface was laid at Allianz Park, Saracens have achieved huge domestic and European success. The current field meets World Rugby’s vigorous performance standards, and the new surface will be even more advanced.”

Bryn Lee, Managing Director, SIS Pitches

Saracens marked the start of their Aviva Premiership defence with a 27-12 win against Northampton Saints on the new surface.

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