Whether you’re a Six Nations superfan or a casual rugby enjoyer, there’s nothing quite as thrilling as cheering on your team alongside thousands of other supporters. The electric atmosphere, the shared passion, and the sense of camaraderie create an unforgettable experience. But what makes this experience even more exciting is being in a truly top-notch stadium. So, which stadiums around the world offer the best experience for fans?

To find out, the team at rugby betting site Betway have analysed 60 stadiums in the UK and around the world, ranking them based on a range of metrics to determine which stadium will claim gold. The study looked at factors including Google review scores, stadium capacity, accessibility via public transport, and even the price of a pre-match McDonalds or equivalent.

On top of that, we also reveal which rugby stadiums in the UK and around the world offer the best value for money, so you can plan your perfect rugby pilgrimage, without breaking the bank.

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The best rugby stadiums for fans in the UK

As one of the world’s most passionate rugby nations, the UK is home to an impressive spread of stadiums. Our research reveals the very best of the bunch, shedding light on what makes a stadium truly exceptional.

1. Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Formerly known as the Millennium Stadium, this world-famous venue is the national stadium of Wales and home to the Welsh Rugby Union. It was originally built to host the 1999 Rugby World Cup and boasts a capacity of 74,500, making it the third-largest stadium in the Six Nations Championship after the Stade de France and Twickenham.

Principality Stadium’s Google review score of 4.7 out of 5 beats every other stadium in the UK, and is a testament to its fantastic quality and atmosphere. It’s also racked up over 53,000 posts on Instagram, earning it the crown for social media popularity.

On top of that, the stadium is easily accessible at just 0.2 miles’ walk from the closest train station. An overnight stay post-match won’t break the bank either, with accommodation in Cardiff costing an average of just £65.17 per night.

2. Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Murrayfield Stadium is the largest stadium in Scotland, and follows close behind Principality Stadium as the second-best for rugby fans in the UK. Home to the Scottish Rugby Union, its huge capacity of 67,800 creates a roaring atmosphere that’s hard to beat.

It’s also the most convenient stadium for fans travelling via public transport, located just 0.1 miles away from the nearest station, as well as being one of the cheapest with a trip there and back averaging only £4.

Factor in its solid Google review score (4.6 out of 5), and it’s easy to see why Murrayfield is a real fan favourite.

3. Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry

The Coventry Building Society Arena comes in third, thanks to its affordability, accessibility and solid reputation.

From 2014 to 2022 it was the home ground of the Wasps, whose first match there saw Coventry-born Andy Goode set a Premiership Rugby record for the most points scored in a single match (33). Since then, it’s hosted countless thrilling games, with its capacity of 32,609 making for a lively atmosphere.

The closest train station is also just 0.1 miles away, guaranteeing a smooth match-day travel experience. Plus, a trip here is pretty budget friendly, with Coventry boasting the cheapest prices in the country for accommodation (£60.46 per night) and a meal at McDonalds (£6.00).

4. Ashton Gate Stadium

Ranking in fourth is Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol. The home ground of Bristol City football club and the Bristol Bears rugby union team, the stadium is also set to host its first ever Women’s Six Nations fixture as The Red Roses take on Wales in March.

For those travelling by public transport, it costs just £4.00 for two one-way trips in the city, and the stadium is only 0.8 miles from the nearest train station. Accommodation is also relatively affordable in Bristol for fans wanting to make a weekend of it, averaging £73 per night.

5. BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff

Rounding out the top five is another stadium in Cardiff: the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park. It’s home to Cardiff Blues and Cardiff RFC, and has hosted many important matches, including four games in the 1991 Rugby World Cup.

Although it’s a lot smaller than Cardiff’s Principality Stadium with a capacity of just 12,500, Cardiff Arms Park is still a great venue for fans to cheer on their team — as demonstrated by its Google rating of 4.5/5.

The cheapest rugby stadiums to visit in the UK

Looking for a world-class rugby experience at a reasonable price? We’ve crunched the numbers on accommodation costs, public transport fares, and the price of a McMeal at McDonalds for stadiums around the UK to see where your money stretches furthest.

Headingley Stadium in Leeds takes the top spot for value, with an average total cost of £79.26 for attending a game (not including ticket prices). Nearby accommodation costs just £60.46 per night on average, while two one-way trips on public transport and a McMeal at McDonalds both cost just £4.

Coventry Building Society Arena comes in second, with accommodation, public transport and food all adding up to a very reasonable £81.14

This is followed by The Darlington Arena at £82.40, and Cardiff’s Principality Stadium at £85.85.

The best global rugby stadiums for fans

1. Stade de France, Saint-Denis

The national stadium of France is an impressive sight to behold, so it’s no wonder it wins gold as the world’s best rugby stadium for fans. It originally opened in 1998 for the FIFA World Cup, and has since welcomed thousands upon thousands of dedicated fans for the 1999, 2007 and 2023 Rugby World Cups.

Its capacity of 81,338 makes it one of the biggest rugby stadiums in the world, and the atmosphere here on match day is a dream come true for passionate fans. It’s a clear winner on social media too, with 326,810 Instagram posts to its name.

The Stade de France is located in Saint-Denis, which is relatively small and doesn’t have too much to offer in the way of post-match meal options. Fortunately, Saint-Denis sits on the outskirts of Paris, where fans can really celebrate in style after a win.

2. Boris Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi

Located in Tbilisi, Georgia, the Boris Paichadze Stadium is one of the largest in Eastern Europe with a capacity of 56,000. It’s home to Georgia national rugby union team, as well as football clubs Dinamo Tbilisi and Georgia national football team.

It may not be quite as well known as stadiums like Stade de France, but the Boris Paichadze Stadium has a lot to offer fans. It claims one of the best Google review scores at 4.7 out of 5, demonstrating visitors’ satisfaction with the venue.

Plus, it’s among the cheapest to visit for a match, with Tbilisi offering low costs for accommodation, public transport and fast food meals. What more could you ask for?

3. Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires

In third place is Estadio José Amalfitani in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Although it’s primarily a football stadium, it also serves as the national stadium for the Argentina national rugby union team, as well as being the home ground for the Jaguares, an Argentine Super Rugby team.

Its capacity of 49,540 is on the lower side among the top stadiums, but is still more than enough to create a blood-pumping atmosphere on match day.

Fans are also promised a smooth journey there and back, with a train station only 0.4 miles away and an affordable rate of £0.24 for two one-way trips on public transport.

4. Cape Town Stadium

Cape Town Stadium has come in fourth. Built in 2010 for the FIFA World Cup, the stadium has been the official home of Western Province Rugby and the DHL Stormers since 2021, and also acts as a base for two of Cape Town’s soccer teams.

With a capacity of 55,000, the stadium is the fifth largest in the country, and has hosted the South Africa Sevens rugby tournament since 2015.

The stadium might be a slight walk from the nearest train station (1.6 miles), but two one-way trips on public transport will set fans back just £1.70. The stadium also boasts a great Google review score of 4.6/5.

5. Estadio Ciudad de La Plata

Another of Argentina’s stadiums rounds off the top five best rugby stadiums in the world, Estadio Ciudad de La Plata. The 53,000 capacity stadium is also known as the Único Diego Armando Maradona stadium, a tribute to one of the greatest Argentine footballers to have ever lived.

A multi-purpose stadium, it’s often used for football matches, rugby games, and even concerts, having hosted the likes of Ed Sheeran, Britney Spears, and The Rolling Stones.

For those travelling to matches by public transport, it costs as little as £0.32 for two one-way trips, plus grabbing a pre-match McDonalds is very affordable, with a McMeal averaging £3.74 in the city.

The cheapest rugby stadiums to visit in the world

Boris Paichadze Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia is the best value rugby stadium in the world, with an average cost of just £44.07 to attend a game. This doesn’t include the cost of a match ticket, but it does include one night’s accommodation (£19.63), travel on public transport (£0.58 for two one-way tickets), and the price of a pre or post-match McDonalds meal(£6.45).

Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, comes second, costing £54.92 to visit on average. In fact, South Africa is the place to be for affordable rugby, with four other South African stadiums making the top 10: Ellis Park Stadium (£57.59), FNB Stadium (£57.59), Kings Park Stadium (£65.34), and Cape Town Stadium (£79.68).

Conclusion: The best stadiums for rugby fans

Based on our research, Principality Stadium in Cardiff is officially the best stadium for rugby fans in the UK, while the Stade de France in Saint-Denis takes the top spot globally.

Principality Stadium will see Wales take on Scotland during first-round fixtures of the Six Nations Championship this year, as well as hosting matches against France and Italy in rounds four and five. So if you’re a rugby fan in the UK, it’s well worth taking a trip to Cardiff to experience the electrifying atmosphere of this world-class stadium firsthand.

Stade de France won’t be hosting France’s home fixtures this year, as it’ll be getting ready for the 2024 Summer Olympics instead. However, two other top-rated stadiums will be featuring in the 2024 Six Nations: Murrayfield in Edinburgh, and Stadio Olimpico in Rome.