The Rugby Paper's Rugby Stadium World Cup

Following Sunday’s twitter poll that saw 2,081 people vote for their favourite Premiership stadium, the Rugby Paper will this week conduct a “World Cup” to determine what the readers’ favourite stadium is.

The poll only contained the three Premiership teams that ranked highest in the Trip Advisor survey conducted by Live Rugby Tickets, with Welford Road edging The Rec – the latter of which was named as the top stadium in the survey – with the “Other” option a close third.

After some disagreed with the fans' choice on the best grounds in world rugby, we're asking what you think is the best ground in the Premiership?
— The Rugby Paper (@TheRugbyPaper) July 24, 2022

Given the amount of engagement with the poll, and the dozens of replies to the “Other” option, which saw most teams in the Premiership (and indeed other leagues) named as possible choices, The Rugby Paper Website has decided to determine which is best with a World-Cup style Twitter competition.

There are 64 stadiums chosen, including all those in the Premiership, Super Rugby, United Rugby Championship and some of the most iconic stadiums in the Top 14, as well as the national homes of all top tier nations.

Teams were seeded broadly according to where they ranked in the survey, although some have been added and others moved up based on their positive reputations among fans, before the draw below was made.

The vote for the first group will open at 4:30pm on Monday with another two hours later, followed by one every two hours of the day from 6:30am to 6:30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Rugby Stadium World Cup

Pool A

The Recreation Ground, Bath

Ellis Park, Sigma Lions

FNB Stadium, South Africa

Stadio Comunlae Monigo, Benetton

Pool B

The Stoop, Quins

Murrayfield, Scotland

Liberty Stadium, Ospreys

Ashton Gate, Bristol Bears

Harlequins celebrate their extra-time win over Bristol Bears — *Harlequins have fond memories of Ashton Gate, coming from 28-0 to win there in last year’s Premiership semi-final, but will it knock their ground, The Stoop, out of the competition?*

Pool C

Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Rugby

Ravenhill, Ulster

Loftus Versfield, Bulls

Perth Oval, Western Force

Pool D

Parc Y Scarlets, Scarlets

Jose Amalfitani Stadium, Argentina

Canberra Stadium, Brumbies

Sky Stadium, Hurricanes

Pool E

Kingsholm, Gloucester

Thomond Park, Munster

Paris La Defense Arena, Racing

Kingston Park, Newcastle

*Kingsholm came up regularly in the “Other” category, but will it make it out of Pool E?*

Pool F

StoneX Stadium, Sarries

Brentford Community Stadium, Irish

National Stadium, Singapore 7s

Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh

Pool G

Sandy Park, Exeter

Optus Stadium, Australia

ANZ Stadium, Australia

Stade Pierre-Fabres, Castres

Pool H

FMG Stadium Waikato, Chiefs

Eden Park, Blues & New Zealand

Stade Marcel-Deflandre, La Rochelle

Churchill Park, Fiji

Pool I

Sixways, Worcester

Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Altrad Stadium, Montpellier

Orangetheory Stadium, Crusaders

Pool J

AAMI Park, Rebels

Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse

Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Zebre

Stade de Gerland, Lyon

Pool K

Welford Road, Tigers

Cape Town Stadium, Stormers

CBS Arena, Wasps

Galway Sportsgrounds, Connacht

Pool L

Suncorp Stadium, Reds

International Stadium Yokohama, Japan

Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux

AJ Bell Stadium, Sale

Pool M

Principality Stadium, Wales

Forsyth Barr Stadium, Highlanders

Kings Park, Sharks

Scotsoun Stadium, Glasgow

Pool N

SFS, Waratahs

Stade Marcel Michelin, Clermont

Stade Velodrome, France

Stadio Olimpico, Italy

Pool O

Franklin’s Gardens, Saints

Twickenham, England

Stade Mayol, Toulon

Rodney Parade, Newport

*Franklin’s Gardens, home of Northampton Saints, faces an all-English clash with Twickenham*

Pool P

Stade de France, France

RDS Arena, Leinster

Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong 7s

Soldier Field, USA

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