Kent Sport at the University will be providing students even more opportunity to participate in sport with the addition of a new world-class 3G pitch, as a part of its programme of ongoing sports facility expansion.

Graham Holmes, Director of Sport at Kent says: ‘The new 3G pitch will be a first-rate facility of exceptional quality and a considerable asset to the University of Kent. This exciting new facility will complement the wide-range of first-rate sports and recreational facilities already available at Kent maintaining our reputation as one of the leading sports providers in the region.’

The new 3G will enable back-to-back fixtures and training for rugby, football and American football with all year round playability overriding some of the constraints of grass pitches. It will also provide optimal playing conditions for matches from recreational to top-level rugby and football.

The pitch development is starting at the end of July 2015 and will be available by January 2016. It is an eco-friendly solution re-using as many as 20,000 vehicle tyres in the construction materials. The 3G pitch is designed by Field Turf, has passed the strictest tests and provides the highest level of performance and safety for players. It will include a new spectator area and be fully flood lit.

To achieve the quality standards required, Kent Sport selected the Vertex RGF, which is tested to FIFA and World Rugby standards. The pitch can be split to allow up to three simultaneous training sessions. The University is providing a large number of people from recreational users to elite athletes with the most up-to-date, professional-standard facilities.