Artificial pitches

University Park is home to two world-class artificial pitches, catering for rugby, football, hockey, lacrosse, shinty and ultimate frisbee.

3G pitch

The full size, fully floodlit, 3G artificial pitch offers a playing surface that matches the top level of performance sport in the UK. The pitch is suitable for hosting up to international level matches and has achieved both FIFA QUALITY and World Rugby Regulation 22 certifications.

Incorporating two warm-up areas, and catering for both a full-size 11-a-side football pitch and a full-size rugby pitch, the facility is used as training venue throughout the year for rugby, football, ultimate frisbee and lacrosse, and for regular club fixtures, including a series of evening matches under the lights.

The pitch

The 3G synthetic pitch features a 100% recycled fibre playing surface with a biodegradable and non-toxic organic cork infill, and was the first pitch of its kind provided by FieldTurf in the UK.

The pitch is completely carbon-neutral, with FieldTurf having offset the carbon footprint, and has received a Carbon Offset certificate as well as an International Sustainability and Carbon Certification.

Synthetic turf pitch (STP)

The full size Synthetic Turf Pitch, opened in October 2024, is home to the Saints Hockey programme and is a training venue throughout the year for a number of student clubs.

With dedicated space for spectators, and benefiting from video analysis technology, the pitch is used for Junior Hockey and Junior Football sessions, weekly student football leagues and a number of community sports programmes.

The pitch

The new STP features a Poligras Paris GT Zero surface – a Dry Turf pitch which is FIH Innovation-certified for dry hockey. Poligras Paris GT zero Dry is the first ever climate-neutral synthetic hockey turf that also offers optimal playing properties, even without watering. This means it can also be used professionally in “dry” conditions. Poligras Paris GT zero Dry therefore fulfils the official requirements of the FIH (International Hockey Federation) for synthetic hockey turf that does not need to be watered prior to use. The positive carbon footprint of Poligras Paris GT zero Dry is made possible by filaments composed of organically based raw materials and a recyclable polyurethane wear coat: the same properties that significantly reduce the weight of the turf and give it ideal playing properties.