Rugby Season Is Coming to an End: It’s Time to Rethink Your Locker Room Design
When it comes to Rugby Locker Rooms, there’s actually a lot more to it than simply installing lockers and washroom facilities in any old layout without any thought.
For example, when designing your Rugby Changing Rooms, it is absolutely essential that you take the Disability Discrimination Act into consideration, meaning your locker room is accessible, as well as inclusive for everyone, accommodating all genders, ages, and disabilities. In fact, Sport England has written an extensive guide on Accessible & Inclusive Sports Facilities, if you want to delve into more detail.
Additionally, according to RFU Safeguarding, your changing room must include a suitable number of en-suite showers and toilet facilities.
Regardless, we’ll try not to get too technical about the details of your Rugby Locker Room design!
The Layout
In terms of the layout for Rugby Changing Rooms, we highly recommend having a circular or horseshoe configuration, with your Lockers installed along the outside walls to keep the middle of the room completely clear of furniture. This way, it’s easy for your team or away teams to move around the space and communicate face-to-face. What’s more, it creates a communal environment where your team can huddle for a meeting before a big game or even walk through a last-minute change to your game strategy, without any obstructions.
To name just a few rugby clubs that have the above type of layout, include Twickenham, Principality Stadium, Wigan Warriors, and St Helens R.F.C.
Don’t forget to include separate areas for your shower facilities, as well as toilet cubicles and hand-wash basin units. You should also prevent direct lines of sight into your changing room or shower area, which can be addressed by installing a partition wall if necessary.
Open Faced Lockers
If you’re struggling to decide between closed or open-faced lockers, we would highly recommend opting for the latter, also known as “cubbies”. The great thing about these types of lockers is that they allow for optimal airflow, which is especially important when holding sweaty towels, muddy kits and pads. This makes them ideal for preventing mould and minimising odours.
Additionally, these open-faced Rugby Lockers can have coat hooks or hangers so that your team can neatly hang their kit without worrying about creases. Their open design also means they can quickly access their gear or water bottles without the faff of unlocking and locking padlocks or frantically searching for their missing kit.
We touched on a communal environment above – and again, these types of lockers can foster a sense of camaraderie and trust within your team, which, in turn, helps improve their teamwork skills when playing on the pitch.
Boot Storage & Shelving
Another aspect of Rugby Locker Rooms is Boot Storage, which can be installed at the base of your lockers, and Shelving, which can be fitted at the top. Muddy boots can be stored at floor level, so that they don’t get any clothes or belongings dirty, whilst bulky sports bags can be stored above.
By keeping the floor completely clear and free from clutter, you minimise the risk of trip hazards and provide more room for your team to warm up and stretch before their next fixture. This is especially important in busy and crowded changing rooms. A clutter-free changing room means a stress-free mind, allowing your team to be fully focused on the pitch.
Integrated Bench Seating
Bench Seating is an absolutely crucial part of Rugby Locker Changing Rooms. After all, your team needs somewhere to sit down after a solid 80 minutes of being on their feet! As we’ve mentioned before, you’ll want to keep the central area clear of obstructions. Therefore, we recommend opting for integrated benches with your lockers to maximise space.
Additionally, these will be securely fixed in place, eliminating the risk of tipping, especially after a long and tiring match. For an added touch of comfort, these can be fitted with upholstery.
Washroom Facilities
Whilst we have focused on the Locker Room aspect of your design – it wouldn’t be a Rugby Changing Room without Washroom facilities for your team to freshen up after a long game, as well as cater to their day-to-day needs.
Ideally, your changing rooms should have their showers located as far from entrances and toilets as possible. Additionally, you will need a separate dry-off area for your team to dry themselves off before re-entering the locker room, to avoid wet puddles, which might cause slip hazards. If your team prefers to have a bit more privacy, you can also opt for shower cubicles.
As a general guideline, we recommend providing at least one shower and one toilet for every six to eight players. For example, if your squad has 24 players, aim for at least 3 to 4 showers and 3 to 4 toilets.
Looking to Install Rugby Locker Rooms?
At Crown Sports Lockers, we have over three and a half decades of industry experience designing, manufacturing, and installing Rugby Locker Rooms for both local and professional clubs across the UK.
If you’re interested in upgrading your Changing Rooms after the rugby season has ended, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01803 555885 or send us a message by completing our contact form.
You can choose from a diverse range of standard-designed and bespoke lockers, with your choice of colours and finishes to match your rugby club’s branding. From start to finish, you will have a dedicated Project Manager who will liaise with you throughout and consider Sport England guidelines when planning your project.
If you do want to read more about recommended standards, with examples of layouts for changing rooms, toilet cubicles, showers, etc., please feel free to take a look at the RFU’s Changing Room Guidance Guide.