Whether you’re lighting a local rugby union pitch, a national stadium, or an indoor rugby pitch used for training during the off-season, the right rugby lighting system makes a huge difference. From broadcast-level visibility to safe evening training sessions, Halliday Lighting delivers bespoke rugby floodlight solutions that meet national standards and maximise player performance.
Rugby is played across a variety of venues, each with its own specific lighting requirements. Whether you’re managing a traditional rugby union pitch, a synthetic surface used for training, or a purpose-built indoor rugby pitch, it’s important to choose a lighting system tailored to your space.
Whether it’s a match-ready setup or low-energy training configuration, Halliday Lighting ensures all rugby pitch or field lighting projects meet the relevant standards across the UK and Ireland.
The following table provides details about the requirements for Rugby floodlights set out by governing bodies in the UK and Ireland:
Typical configurations for floodlit rugby venues include:
| Governing Body | Category | Eave | Emin/Eave |
| RFU | Levels 2-5: Matches | 200 lux | 0.6 |
| Levels 2-5: Training | 100 lux | 0.5 | |
| Levels 6-12: Matches | 100 lux | 0.5 | |
| Levels 6-12: Training | 100 lux | 0.5 | |
| WRU | A Licence | 300 lux with the ability to increase to 500 lux | |
| B Licence | 300 lux | ||
| Class 1 | 500 lux | 0.7 | |
| Class 2 | 300 lux | 0.6 | |
| Class 3 | 250 lux | 0.6 | |
| Class 4 | 140 lux | 0.5 | |
| Class 5 | 75-100 lux | 0.5 | |
| IRFU | Class II | 200 lux | 0.6 |
| Class III | 100 lux | 0.5 |
In addition to the standards set by the organisations which govern rugby, European standard BS EN 12193:2018 also presents recommendations and requirements for sports lighting. For Rugby, it specifies floodlight values for three categories as below:
| Standard | Category | Eave | Emin/Eave |
| BS EN 12193:2018 | I | 500 lux | 0.7 |
| II | 200 lux | 0.6 | |
| III | 75 lux | 0.5 |
For televised or recorded fixtures, World Rugby provides standards for broadcasting quality as follows:
| Governing Body | Category | Eave | Emin/Eave |
| World Rugby | WR1 | 2000 lux | 0.8 |
| WR2 | 1750 lux | 0.8 | |
| WR3 | >500 lux | 0.7 |
(The tables above provide only some of the key values set out in the standards. For more detailed information, relevant guidance documents are available below in the Useful Links section.)
What do these Rugby pitch lighting terms mean?
Lux – the measurement of light calculated as a unit of illuminance lumens per square metre so 1 lux = 1 lumen/m2
Eave – average horizontal illuminance
Emin/Eave – calculation of illuminance uniformity
As well as the information provided by the governing bodies, our team of lighting experts are available to answer any queries you may have about floodlights and to support you through the planning and design stages of your sports lighting project.
If you’re planning to upgrade your rugby floodlights, design a system for a new indoor rugby pitch, or need advice on the latest rugby lighting standards for your rugby union field, our experts are here to help.
To find out more about how floodlights can bring added benefits to a rugby club, click here to see how floodlights have been added to the 3G facility at Melrose Rugby.
We also have information on football pitch lighting requirements and hockey lighting requirements.
Useful Links
IRFU Facilities Guidance for Floodlighting
RFU Floodlighting Installation and Maintenance Guidance
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page has been collated from various sources, including those provided above in Useful Links. This information may be subject to change at any time by the governing bodies and standards agencies.
