Kicking off! The Future of Rugby Stadia – By Populous’ Richard Breslin and François Clément
March 19, 2015
As well as re-energising the area where it stands, the design and masterplan of both stadia place a big emphasis on national and international public transport connections, ensuring a visit to either stadium can easily be made from the European continent, and even the world.
An economic impact study for the 2015 Rugby World Cup – featuring four Populous-designed stadia this autumn – suggests that nearly £1 billion of additive value will be driven into the UK economy, with more international visitors expected than at any other Rugby World Cup.
In an interview with HOST CITY Magazine, Bernard Lapasset, Chairman of World Rugby and Vice-Chairman of the French National Olympic Committee, said that the “Rugby World Cup is one of the world’s most prestigious and popular major sports events and a major driving force behind the development and prosperity of Rugby worldwide. As a low-risk, high-return event, Rugby World Cup is an attractive proposition for prospective host nations.”
Of course, major international events might be expected to see a dramatic impact on visitors and revenue.
However, an independent study commissioned by the Welsh Rugby Union into the legacy of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff recently suggested that the stadium brought over £130 million pounds into the Welsh economy annually, including over 2,500 full-time jobs across Wales.
All this points to a strong future for the next generation of rugby stadia, and particularly the Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR) Grand Stade, currently being built in Ris-Orangis to the south of Paris.
With an architecture echoing a fortified town, delivering both hospitality and protection, the stadium will be a fantastic new home for all levels of rugby. From the men’s and women’s national teams to age-group representation and the final of the TOP 14, the Grand Stade will become the bastion of the FFR and an icon for the game in France.
However, the 82,000 capacity venue will be much more than just a rugby stadium. With a closing roof to ensure that the crowd cheering on Les Bleus can create an incredible atmosphere, the stadium also features a retractable pitch, which can be rolled out of the stadium to reveal a multi-use concrete base, allowing flexibility for a range of conventions, shows and other sports, to go ahead in all weathers.
As well as instigating a large urban redevelopment of 130 hectares, creating jobs and bringing local amenities, the ability to provide a year-round income for the FFR will allow them to increase their revenues, which can then be redistributed to the grass roots and the amateur game, ensuring the future of French rugby.
Just as the game of rugby is becoming bigger and faster, rugby stadia are becoming more flexible in their role in the community; providing a stage for world-class sport, and a real boost to the local community and economy, particularly outside of the traditional rugby season. At Populous we’re looking forward to a great year of rugby in 2015, and a great future for the sport and those who love it.
Richard Breslin is a Senior Principal at Populous and a Director of the Asian/Pacific office headquartered in Brisbane. Richard also sits on the worldwide strategic Board of Populous. Richard is responsible for all of the firm’s projects in New Zealand and Australia.
In 1997, Richard commenced work with the team on the design of Stadium Australia (now ANZ Stadium), the main venue for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games. At this time, he also worked on the event overlay for the Games before moving to London where he worked on the design of the 90,000 seat Wembley Stadium, and the design of the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He was also project leader for Populous’ successful master plan for the London 2012 Olympic Park.
Following the successful delivery of the 2000 Summer Games, Richard worked on the design of the 90,000 seat Wembley Stadium, before leading the design team for two stadia constructed in Portugal (Estadio da Luz in Lisbon and Estadio Algarve in Faro) in preparation for the UEFA Euro 2004 soccer competition.
In 2006, he was Project Leader for the design of the Soccer CIty Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He was also appointed project leader for Populous’ successful master plan for the London 2012 Olympic Park. Populous designed the main stadium for the London Olympics and was part of the Overlay team for the Olympic Park.
In 2007, Richard immigrated to New Zealand, where he led the teams on Eden Park redevelopment in Auckland and Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin; – both were venues for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Richard is now working on a range of projects in Australia and New Zealand, including the sports hub which is part of the blueprint for the rebuilding of Christchurch, following the earthquakes.
Richard is currently leading the Populous team on the Darling Harbour Live project in Sydney in a HASSELL+ Populous joint venture. The $750M project includes the design of a convention centre, exhibition centre and theatre. He is also Director in charge of the redevelopment of Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne.
Richard’s 
François Clément studied architecture at the Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia in Italy for three years after completing a diploma of basic architecture studies (D.E.F.A. degree) at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Marseille-Luminy in France. In 1995 he graduated as a French State-registered Architect (D.P.L.G. degree) from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris La Villette.
François joined Populous in 2006 in order to work on the design of the Aviva Stadium (the new Lansdowne Road Stadium), which was completed in 2010. A Principal in the London office of global architecture practice Populous, François is currently the project architect of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) Grand Stade. This 82,000 seat project features a retractable pitch and roof, and was won by Populous after a design competition organised by the FFR.
Francois’