Elite Surfaces and Community Spirit in Cardiff’s East End

In the heart of east Cardiff, the redeveloped Llanrumney Sports Fields have set new benchmarks for university and grassroots sport in Wales. The project is the largest of its kind in the country — a community-driven initiative led by Cardiff University, Cardiff City House of Sport, and the Llanrumney Community Sports Trust.

High-Performance Surfaces for Rugby, Football, and Multisport Use

At the centre of the facility are three full-size synthetic turf pitches, each surfaced with the high-performance LigaTurf Legend Pro system from Polytan and individually tailored to specific sporting requirements. One of the fields is dedicated to rugby and built to World Rugby standards. Its resilient fibres ensure optimum playing characteristics, while the striking red safety run-offs not only enhance protection but also create a bold visual statement. Another field was developed exclusively for football, offering the ideal surface for fast-paced, technical play with a focus on speed, precision, and reliability under heavy use. The third full-size pitch is a genuine multisport surface, designed for both rugby and football, with multicolour line markings that enable flexible use without compromising quality of play.

In addition to these large-scale fields, the complex also includes a 1,000 m² multiuse games area, likewise surfaced with LigaTurf Legend Pro. This facility was realised through the collaboration of South Wales Sports Grounds and Polytan UK Sports Surfaces, serving as a visible symbol of their shared commitment to advancing sports infrastructure across all levels.

Professional Hockey Surface with Advanced Turf Technology

The sports campus is further enhanced by a Poligras SuperPlay artificial turf hockey pitch, which broadens the range of disciplines accommodated at Llanrumney. This sand-dressed surface is certified for FIH National competitions and has been engineered for speed, precision, and technical accuracy. Made entirely from soft yet exceptionally durable PE filaments, it combines resilience with player comfort. Its distinctive BiColour design lends the field a natural aesthetic, while the integrated CoolPlus function reflects infrared radiation to keep the surface comfortably cool even in direct sunlight.

Floodlit Artificial Turf PItches for Year-Round Usability

All five synthetic turf pitches in Cardiff are equipped with modern floodlighting, ensuring that play is not limited to daylight hours. Even on dark winter evenings, the facility remains fully accessible, creating a reliable year-round sports environment. This continuous usability sets a new benchmark for multi-sport campuses in the UK, where weather and light conditions often restrict training and competition.

Accessible for All: Students, Clubs, and the Local Community

The Llanrumney Sports Fields are not reserved for elite athletes alone. They are home to students from Cardiff University and the Cardiff City FC Academy, while also welcoming the wider community. This balance of grassroots access and professional-level training creates a vibrant atmosphere in which people of all ages and abilities can take part. By uniting performance and participation, the facility demonstrates how modern sports infrastructure can inspire both excellence and inclusivity.

With LigaTurf Legend Pro and Poligras SuperPlay systems at its core, the Llanrumney complex stands as a forward-looking model for modern sport — built to perform, designed to inspire.

Photography: Chris Humphreys