LED floodlighting for rugby pitches
As a guide, 100 lx applies to clubs for training and lower leagues, and 200 lx for regional and club competitions. Both apply to the pitch including the in-goal areas; the safety zone beside it should receive 25 per cent of that. To protect the turf, it is worth being able to switch training to different sections of the pitch.
As of:
Send an enquiry for rugby floodlightingWhat defines a rugby pitch
In-goal areas are included
What is lit is not only the pitch of 94 to 100 × 68 to 70 m but also the in-goal areas of 6 to 22 m each.
Think about the safety zone
Next to the field is a zone of 5 m where possible, which should receive about 25 per cent of the field's illuminance.
Training on partial areas
Separately switched training lighting spreads the wear and protects the turf.
Mast height
Masts 12 to 18 m high are typical at club facilities.
Training and match play separated
With scenes, training runs at 100 lx and matches at 200 lx. Only the brightness that is needed at the time is on.
GR ≤50
Glare rating, strictest level
10 no glare90 unbearable
Keeping high kicks in view
For high kicks, the floodlights should preferably not be in the field of view. We determine mast height, tilt and optics in the lighting calculation.
- Mast height
- Tilt
- Optics
- Mast position
Light by playing level
| Average illuminance | Playing level | Lighting class | Uniformity | Glare rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100lx | Training and lower divisions | U 0.5 | GR ≤ 55 | |
| 200lx | Regional and club competitions | U 0.6 | GR ≤ 50 |
What do the values mean?
Lux tells you how much light reaches the pitch. Uniformity shows how evenly it is distributed, and the glare rating how strongly the floodlights cause glare.
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Illuminance (lx): How much light falls on a surface. 1 lx equals 1 lumen per square metre. For sports facilities, the average horizontal illuminance on the playing area is usually given.
Uniformity (U): Lowest divided by average illuminance. The closer the value is to 1, the more even the light.
Glare rating (GR): Assesses how strongly floodlights cause glare at outdoor facilities, on a scale from 10 (no glare) to 90 (unbearable glare).
Frequently asked questions
How many lux does a rugby pitch need?
As a guide, 100 lx at a uniformity of 0.5 applies to training and lower leagues, and 200 lx at 0.6 to regional and club competitions. These are maintained values, so a new installation will be above them.
Is the floodlighting of a football pitch enough?
Not automatically. For football training, DIN EN 12193 gives only 75 lx; for rugby, 100 lx is the guide. The area is also larger: a football pitch usually measures 105 × 68 m, rugby up to 100 × 70 m plus in-goal areas.
How big is the area?
Under the World Rugby laws, the pitch is 94 to 100 m long and 68 to 70 m wide, and the in-goal areas measure 6 to 22 m each. The zone all round is ideally 5 m wide.
What about international matches?
Their own rules apply. Rugby Europe requires an average of at least 300 lx for matches under floodlights. For clubs, the benchmark remains the relevant class, so ask your association.
What applies to light towards the neighbours?
The permit and the local authority regulate this. In Germany, the LAI guidance is the benchmark: in residential areas the guide value for brightening at the window is 3 lx until 10 pm and 1 lx after that. Clarify this early, before the mast positions are fixed.
Send an enquiry for rugby floodlighting
Location and contact are enough. We will get back to you with an initial assessment for your pitch.
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