RFU Training Ground, Pennyhill Park 2025.
The brief
In 2025, the Rugby Football Union appointed Star Live to deliver two permanent-standard structures at their elite training base at Pennyhill Park. The project aimed to replace existing temporary facilities with high-quality, flexible infrastructure that could serve both the men’s and women’s England teams. The build needed to be completed within a narrow window while the teams were off-site, with strict requirements to meet building regulations and blend sympathetically with the sensitive surroundings of the training ground.
The challenge
The brief comprised two distinct structures. The first was a new pitch-side hub designed to replace the existing marquee and create a permanent-quality environment for players and staff. This multifunctional space needed to house areas for dining, socialising and rehabilitation, alongside dedicated spaces for physiotherapy, medical support, meetings and game analysis. Facilities also included a kitchen and toilets, with integrated services throughout.
The second structure was for storage, capable of housing a wide range of groundskeeping and training equipment. Its site presented a significant engineering challenge: the footprint lay directly on a sandpit previously used as a volleyball court, requiring a robust substructure capable of spanning the unstable surface. Meanwhile, the main hub was located on an astroturf pitch, where limited information on ground conditions necessitated additional testing. Star Live conducted pull tests to understand the weight loading capacity before finalising the engineering design.
Compounding the challenge, both structures needed to satisfy building regulations as permanent-quality facilities, while also respecting the character of the training ground, with cladding and finishes required to harmonise with existing buildings on site.
Our solution
Star Live acted as both Principal Designer and Principal Contractor, managing every stage of the build from planning to final delivery. An anchored solution was engineered for both structures, eliminating the need for traditional foundations or external ballast. This approach reduced both build time and build costs, preserved the site and maintained the clean aesthetic required by the client.
For the pitch-side hub, a flexible modular layout was created to integrate the wide range of functions required. The interior incorporated a large socialising space, physio and medical area overlooking the pitch with floor to ceiling windows, a boardroom for meetings, and a dedicated analysis area complete with screen and projector. Supporting amenities such as toilets and a fully fitted kitchen ensured the hub met the daily needs of the England squads.
The storage structure was built on a reinforced scaffold deck and reinforced floor that spanned the sandpit, providing a secure and level base. This enabled the safe housing of both large and small equipment essential for training and groundskeeping. Both buildings were finished with cladding selected to complement the existing architecture at Pennyhill Park, satisfying building regulations while maintaining the integrity of the site.
Impact
The completed project provided the RFU with two high-quality structures that significantly improved facilities at their elite training centre. The pitch-side hub replaced the temporary marquee with a flexible, permanent-standard space that supports every aspect of player preparation, from recovery and medical care to tactical analysis and team dining. The new storage facility delivered essential functionality on a previously unusable footprint, overcoming complex ground conditions with a robust and elegant solution.
By acting as both PD and PC, Star Live ensured seamless management of design, engineering, service integration and delivery. The use of anchored solutions avoided the cost and disruption of foundations or ballast, while the sympathetic finishes preserved the character of the training ground. For the RFU, the project delivered long-term, practical infrastructure within a tightly constrained build window, reinforcing Pennyhill Park’s reputation as one of the best high-performance environments in world rugby.
