

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO RUGBY PITCHES
RUGBY PITCH DIMENSIONS & MARKINGS
Rugby is a fast-paced and physical game that is played and enjoyed around the world. In this guide, we’ll cover rugby pitch sizes, lines, and their significance to the game, providing you with all the information you need whether you’re a player, coach or fan.
MEASUREMENTS OF A RUGBY PITCH
How big is a rugby pitch in metres?
Measured in metres, the playing area of a regulation rugby union pitch according to World Rugby is between 94m and 100m in length and 68m to 70m in width. The area between the try line and the dead ball line should be between 6m and 22m, meaning the total length of the pitch is between 106m and 144m.
UNION VS LEAGUE
RUGBY PITCH DIMENSIONS - UNION VS LEAGUE | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
MEASUREMENT | RUGBY UNION PITCH | RUGBY LEAGUE PITCH | ||
Length in Metres | Length in Yards | Length in Metres | Length in Yards | |
Pitch Length (between try-lines) | 94-100 | 102.8-109.4 | 100 | 109.4 |
Pitch Width | 68-70 | 74.4-76.6 | 68 | 74.4 |
How big is a rugby pitch in acres?
Regulation rugby union pitches are between 1.58 and 1.73 acres in size. When the “in goal area” behind the posts is included, however, it is slightly larger - between 1.78 and 2.49 acres. Rugby league pitches are 1.68 acres from try line to try line and up to 2.05 acres including the “in goal areas”.
How big is a rugby pitch in square metres?
The total area of the “field of play” for a rugby union pitch is between 6,392m² and 7,000m². Including the “in goal area” behind the goalposts, a rugby union pitch is up to 10,080m². Rugby League pitches are up to 6,800m² excluding the in goal areas, and up to 8,296m² including the in goal areas between the try lines and the dead ball lines.
Are all rugby pitches the same size?
No, the length and width of senior rugby union pitches can vary. Excluding the area behind the goalposts, World Rugby states that rugby union pitches should be between 94m and 100m (102.8 - 109.4 yards) long and 68m and 70m (74.4 to 76.6 yards) wide.
Rugby League pitch dimensions on the other hand, should not vary. The main playing area of a rugby league pitch should always be 100m x 68m (109.4yds x 74.4yds), although the “in goal area” behind the goals can vary in length from 6m (6.6yds) to 11m (12.0yds).
Junior Rugby Pitch Dimensions
Younger rugby players play on smaller pitches for shorter time periods and with fewer players than their senior counterparts. As players get older the pitch size gradually increases and their games are contested with more players over a longer duration.
The below provides a breakdown of junior rugby pitch sizes by age, and also covers how long junior rugby games should last and how many players each team should have on the field.
JUNIOR RUGBY UNION PITCH SIZES & RULES | |||
---|---|---|---|
Age Group | Max Pitch Size | Duration | Players |
U7 & U8 | 60x30m | 10 min x2 | 5 to 7 a side |
U9 & U10 | 60x35m | 15 min x2 | 7 to 9 a side |
U11 | 60x43m | 20 mins x2 | 12 a side |
U12 | 60x43m | 20 mins x2 | 13 a side |
U13 | 90x60m | 25 mins x2 | 13 a side |
U14 | 100x70m | 25 mins x2 | 15 a side |
U15 | 100x70m | 30 mins x2 | 15 a side |
U16 | 100x70m | 35 mins x2 | 15 a side |
RUGBY PITCH LAYOUT & MARKINGS
What do the lines mean on a Rugby Union pitch?
Dead Ball Line - this is the line that marks the out of bounds area behind the goalposts. It marks the “in goal area” where a try can be scored. It also marks the end of the field of play.
Try Line/Goal line - the try line is marked in line with the goalposts and runs across the pitch. Players can score a try by touching the ball down on the ground between this line and the dead ball line.
In-Goal Area - the in goal area, is the area between the try line and the dead ball line at each end of the pitch
Touchline - the touchlines are marked on the outer perimeter of the pitch, running from the dead ball line at one end of the pitch to the other. Touchlines mark out the entire length of the pitch, which is 106m - 144m in rugby union.
5m Line - this is the dashed horizontal line that runs parallel to the try line. It is marked 5m out from the try line/goal line. The 5m line is used to mark the minimum distance from the try-line that a scrum or penalty can take place. There are also other 5m lines that run parallel to the touchline which are used for lineouts.
15m Line - the 15m line is another dashed line that runs parallel to the touchline. The 15m line is used for lineouts.
Halfway Line - The halfway line runs parallel to the try lines and is marked halfway across the pitch.
22m Line - The 22m line runs parallel to the try line. It is marked 22m out from the try line and is used for kicking out of hand, fair catches (marks) and “22m dropouts”.
10m Line - the 10m line runs parallel to the try lines, across the pitch. It is marked with a dashed line, 10m from the halfway line on each side. During a kick-off, the ball must travel past the 10m line.
What do the lines mean on a Rugby League pitch?
Dead Ball Line - the dead ball line in Rugby League performs the same function as in Rugby Union, in that it represents the end of the "In-goal area", where a try can be scored and the boundary of the pitch. If the ball goes beyond the dead ball line, it is considered out of play.
Try Line/Goal Line - In line with the goalposts, the try line spans the width of the pitch and performs the same function as the try line found on a Rugby Union pitch; representing the start of the in-goal area. Together, the try line and the dead ball line dictate the length of the in goal area; with the touchlines marking the width.
In-Goal Area - This is the area between the try line/goal line and the dead ball line. As outlined above, it is the area within which an attacking player could score a try by touching the ball down on the ground. The ball must be under the player's control, and downward pressure must be applied with the hand(s). In Rugby League the in-goal area is generally smaller than in-goal area on a Rugby Union Pitch. The Rugby League in goal area has a length of 6-11m (6.6-12 yds), whilst Rugby Union pitches have an in-goal area with a length of 6.6-22m (6.5-24 yds).
Touchline - The touchlines represent the width and length of the pitch. Like Rugby Union, the touchlines on a Rugby League pitch designate the outer edges / outer perimeter of the pitch.
10m Line - Running the width of the pitch and parallel to the try line, the 10m line represents the distance 10m from each tryline. The 10m line is used as a marker, behind which the receiving team must stand at kick off.
20m Line - The 20m line is marked out to help players and the match officials determine where a 20m drop-out, or a restart will take place from.
30m Line - Not all Rugby League pitches will have a 30m line. It is often used by coaches and players as a positional marker, to determine how much ground they may have gained/lost.
40m Line - The 40m line is important in Rugby League because of the 40/20 kick rule. If a player kicks the ball when they are positioned behind their own 40m line, and the ball bounces into touch inside the opposition's 20m line - the kicking team gains the ball with a scrum at the point the ball exited the pitch.
Halfway Line - Used to dive the pitch into two halves, as to serve as the starting point for kick off.
10m Retreat Lines - These 'lines' are not physically marked on the pitch. The 'lines' are used to indicate where the defending team must retreat to after a tackle is made, or an offside penalty is awarded.
OTHER RUGBY PITCH FAQS
Can you play rugby on an artificial pitch?
Yes - it is possible to play rugby on artificial pitches. At the time of writing, clubs that use artificial rugby pitches include Saracens, Newcastle Falcons and Cardiff Rugby. Whilst many players and managers praise and appear to enjoy playing on 3g and 4g pitches, many others have voiced concerns with the cuts and abrasions that can occur.
3g pitches have artificial grass that is infilled with sand and small black rubber pellets. 4g pitches are similar but are designed to eliminate the need for any sand or rubber pellets.
How many flags are there on a rugby pitch?
There are 14 flags on a rugby union pitch. Flags are placed on either side of the dead ball lines, the try lines, the halfway line and the 10m and 22m lines.
What size is an international rugby pitch?
International rugby union pitches have the same regulation sizes as domestic pitches, in line with the laws and guidelines published by World Rugby.
International rugby union pitches have a length between 94m and 100m (102.80-109.36yds) and a width of 68m to 70m (74.4-76.6yds). Including the in-goal area, the length of the pitch is between 106m and 144m (115.9-157.5yds).
Is a rugby pitch bigger than a football pitch?
Rugby union and rugby league pitches tend to be bigger than a typical football pitch if you include the in-goal area beyond the try lines.
The FA recommends that football pitches should be 110 yards (100.6m) long 70 yards (64m) wide; whilst World Rugby recommends that rugby union pitches should have a total length of between 116 and 157.5 yards (106m -144m) and a width between 74.4 to 76.6 yards (68m and 70m).
If only the “playing area” is included, and the “in goal area” of a rugby pitch is excluded, then football pitches are usually larger than rugby union pitches. Top-level football pitches are approximately 115 yards (105m) in length and approximately 74 yards (68m) wide. This gives the average football pitch a total area of 7,140m² or 76,854.32ft²
In comparison, the playing area of a rugby union pitch is between 102.80 yards (94m) and 109.36 yards (100m) in length and 74 to 76.5 yards ( 68m to 70m) in width - giving a total area of 6,392m² and 7,000m² (68803 -75347ft²) .
However, if the “in goal area” behind both posts is included, the total area of a rugby pitch can be up to 10,080m² (108,500ft²) - making the total area and length of the entire rugby pitch, greater than a football pitch.
Rugby league pitches are 109.4 yards (100m) long and 74.4 yards (68m) wide, giving a total area of 6800m² (73194ft²). Again, rugby league pitches are significantly larger when the “in goal area” is included, with a total area up to 8296m² (89297.4ft²).
Wembley football pitch is 115 yards (105m) long and 75.5 yards (69m) wide, whilst the Twickenham rugby union pitch has a “playing area” of 109.4 x 76.6 yards (100m x 70m) - but a total area of 136.7 x 76.6 yards (125m x 70m) including “in goal areas”.
Why is a rugby pitch measured in metres instead of yards?
Whilst rugby (and football) predate the adoption of the metric system in the United Kingdom, rugby governing bodies started using it after the International Rugby Board (renamed as "World Rugby" in 2014) announced that rugby pitch markings and dimensions should be labelled and measured in meters.
This change was approved and implemented to align with international standards of measurement and helped to ensure consistency and avoid confusion as the game was being promoted in countries across Europe that use the metric system.
Domestic governing bodies including the Scottish, Welsh and English Rugby Union (usually abbreviated to the SRU, WRU, and RFU respectively) followed the directive from the IRB, which was already being used by Rugby Europe (previously known as FIRA-AER).
At Net World Sports we sell a vast range of rugby pitch and matchday equipment, including dugouts and shelters, rugby posts and line marking equipment. We also supply rugby flags, stretchers and a comprehensive range of rugby training equipment including tackle pads, bags & shields.