Enhancing Performance in Athletic Development
Rugby Football Union (RFU)
England Rugby Training Centre
The RFU’s Centre for Athletic Development is a cutting-edge indoor training facility for the England Elite Rugby Team, located within the picturesque grounds of Pennyhill Park. This 5-star hotel, set amidst mature woodlands and landscaped gardens, features a full-sized rugby pitch exclusively for RFU use.
The 2,700 sqm facility boasts a 40m x 40m artificial indoor pitch and a state-of-the-art gymnasium designed for international-level training, alongside changing rooms, a physiotherapy suite, and sports equipment storage.
The primary objective was to enhance the training environment for the England senior men’s team in preparation for the Rugby World Cup 2015. The facility, utilised approximately 30 weeks a year, was developed in alignment with the RFU’s strategic objectives for the tournament.
Key challenges included securing a temporary planning application for relocating existing facilities and achieving planning consent within three months, allowing construction to commence promptly. The design had to align with the operational needs of Pennyhill Park Hotel, defined by a signed Agreement for Lease, while also being delivered within a constrained budget. Additionally, a contractor partner was selected through a single-stage Design & Build process with limited lead-in times, ensuring timely completion of the facility.
England Rugby Training Centre
The RFU’s Centre for Athletic Development is a cutting-edge indoor training facility for the England Elite Rugby Team, located within the picturesque grounds of Pennyhill Park. This 5-star hotel, set amidst mature woodlands and landscaped gardens, features a full-sized rugby pitch exclusively for RFU use.
The 2,700 sqm facility boasts a 40m x 40m artificial indoor pitch and a state-of-the-art gymnasium designed for international-level training, alongside changing rooms, a physiotherapy suite, and sports equipment storage.
The primary objective was to enhance the training environment for the England senior men’s team in preparation for the Rugby World Cup 2015. The facility, utilised approximately 30 weeks a year, was developed in alignment with the RFU’s strategic objectives for the tournament.
Key challenges included securing a temporary planning application for relocating existing facilities and achieving planning consent within three months, allowing construction to commence promptly. The design had to align with the operational needs of Pennyhill Park Hotel, defined by a signed Agreement for Lease, while also being delivered within a constrained budget. Additionally, a contractor partner was selected through a single-stage Design & Build process with limited lead-in times, ensuring timely completion of the facility.