Rugby union is woven into New Zealand’s sporting identity, from packed Saturday club grounds to sold-out international Tests featuring the All Blacks. Whether you are watching a match or learning the basics of how rugby is played, one of the most common questions from new supporters is simply: how long is a rugby field? The short answer is that the main playing area runs up to 100 metres between the goal lines. A full pitch, however, includes in-goal areas, safety run-off zones and a precise grid of markings, all regulated by World Rugby, the sport’s international governing body. This guide breaks down every measurement and explains how field size changes across the different levels of the game.
Key Facts
- Playing area length: up to 100 metres between the goal lines
- Playing area width: up to 70 metres between the touchlines
- In-goal depth: maximum 22 metres (recommended at least 10 metres where practicable)
- Total pitch length (dead-ball line to dead-ball line): roughly 120-144 metres
- Distance between goalposts: 5.6 metres
- Crossbar height: 3.0 metres to the top edge; posts at least 3.4 metres tall
- Governing body: World Rugby (Law 1 – The Ground)
Standard Rugby Field Dimensions
The dimensions of a rugby union pitch are set out in Law 1 of the World Rugby laws. The figures below are maximums: a pitch may be smaller where space is limited, but it can never exceed these numbers at senior level.
Playing Area Length and Width
The field of play is the rectangle between the two goal lines (also called try lines) and the two touchlines. It measures a maximum of 100 metres in length from goal line to goal line, and a maximum of 70 metres in width from touchline to touchline.
This rectangle gives players room for high-speed counter-attacks, expansive passing and tactical kicking duels. The touchlines mark the outer edges of the width: if a player carrying the ball steps on or over a touchline, the ball is ruled into touch and play restarts with a lineout.
In-Goal Areas and the Dead-Ball Line
Beyond each goal line lies the in-goal area, the zone where an attacking player must ground the ball to score a try. Under World Rugby Law 1, the in-goal is the space between the goal line and the dead-ball line at the very back, bounded on each side by the touch-in-goal lines.
The in-goal can be no more than 22 metres deep, and World Rugby recommends it should be at least 10 metres deep where practicable. It is the same width as the field of play. Because in-goal depth varies from ground to ground, the total length of a pitch from one dead-ball line to the other typically falls between 120 and 144 metres.
Pitch Markings and Goalposts Explained
A rugby pitch is covered by a precise set of painted white lines that help referees and players manage restarts, kicks and territory. Understanding them shows why exact dimensions matter so much for tactics, especially when a side is kicking to win field position.
Goalpost Measurements
The H-shaped goalposts stand on each goal line. World Rugby laws require the two vertical posts to be 5.6 metres apart, joined by a crossbar whose top edge sits 3.0 metres above the ground. The posts themselves must be a minimum of 3.4 metres tall, so they always extend above the crossbar; at professional stadiums they are usually much taller for visibility and are padded at the base for safety. To score, a conversion or penalty kick must pass over the crossbar and between the inner edges of the two posts.
The 22, Halfway and 10-Metre Lines
Several solid and broken lines run parallel to the goal lines. The halfway line divides the pitch into two equal halves and is used for kick-offs at the start of each half and after points are scored. Broken (dashed) 10-metre lines sit 10 metres either side of halfway to mark how far a kick-off must travel.
The 22-metre lines are painted 22 metres out from each goal line. This area is central to tactics: if a defending team kicks the ball directly into touch from inside its own 22 without it bouncing in the field first, the lineout is thrown in level with where the kick was taken, rather than where the ball crossed the line.
The 5-Metre and 15-Metre Lines
Running the other way, parallel to the touchlines, are dashed 5-metre and 15-metre lines. These guide where lineouts form and how far players must stand from the touchline. There are also short 5-metre dashes in front of each goal line, marking the closest point at which a scrum can be set. These reference points work alongside the game’s offside rules to keep phases of play structured.
How Rugby Field Size Varies by Level
Because the published dimensions are maximums, pitch size can change depending on the level of competition and the space a ground has available.
International, Super Rugby and NPC
Elite competitions are played on full-sized pitches. International Tests, the Rugby Championship, Super Rugby Pacific and the domestic NPC are staged at stadiums that meet World Rugby standards, with the playing area laid out close to the maximum 100 metres by 70 metres, full-depth in-goals and clear run-off zones around the edges so players can be tackled safely near the boundary lines.
Community, School and Small Blacks Rugby
At grassroots level, shared council parks and school grounds often mean smaller playing areas, and junior rugby deliberately uses modified fields. New Zealand Rugby’s Small Blacks programme, for players roughly aged 5 to 12, scales the game down: younger grades play small-sided formats on a quarter or half of an adult field, with team numbers and pitch size increasing as children get older. These smaller dimensions match the stamina and development stage of younger players and help teams practise controlling territory in a manageable space.
Rugby Union vs Rugby League Field Size
Rugby union and rugby league look similar but use different pitches. A rugby league field also has 100 metres between the try lines, but it is narrower at 68 metres wide, with in-goal areas of 6 to 11 metres, giving an overall length of roughly 112 to 122 metres. The table below compares the main formats.
Field Size Comparison
| Format | Length (goal line to goal line) | Width | In-goal depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rugby union (international / Super Rugby / NPC) | Up to 100 m | Up to 70 m | 10-22 m |
| Rugby league | 100 m | 68 m | 6-11 m |
| Community & school rugby union | Reduced where space is limited | Reduced where space is limited | Reduced, full-depth not required |
| Small Blacks junior rugby (NZ) | Quarter to half of an adult field, by age grade | Scaled by age grade | Short, modified |
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a rugby field in yards?
A full-sized rugby union field of play is up to 100 metres long between the goal lines, which is about 109 yards, and up to 70 metres wide, roughly 76.5 yards.
What is the total length of a rugby field including in-goal areas?
With an in-goal area at each end, the total length from one dead-ball line to the other generally ranges from about 120 metres (with 10-metre in-goals) up to 144 metres (with the maximum 22-metre in-goals).
How wide is a standard rugby pitch?
A senior rugby union field of play is up to 70 metres wide from touchline to touchline. Many pitches sit close to this maximum to allow room for wide attacking play.
How far apart are rugby goalposts?
The two goalposts are 5.6 metres apart, joined by a crossbar with its top edge 3.0 metres above the ground. The posts must be at least 3.4 metres tall and are usually much higher at professional grounds.
Do rugby league and rugby union fields have the same dimensions?
No. Both have 100 metres between the try lines, but rugby union is up to 70 metres wide while rugby league is 68 metres wide with shorter in-goal areas, making a league pitch slightly narrower overall.