Rugby Trade Directory

Collinson Construction help Bristol Bears to top of the table with their 'training barn'

Collinson Construction have delivered a new high-performance 'training barn' for Premiership Rugby side Bristol Bears which provides an indoor rugby training facility which can be used all year round.

They were awarded the contract to build a new indoor training complex for professional Rugby Union team Bristol Bears in 2019. The project saw them create a new indoor training centre as part of a 44,000 sq ft facility on the 23-acre site.

 As well as this fully covered, floodlit, half-size 4G pitch, the wider development also consists of two full-size grass pitches, a gymnasium, strength and conditioning facilities, medical rooms, and offices for staff and club officials.

The indoor training facility allows all of the club’s teams, from junior age groups right up to the first XV, to train without being affected by adverse weather.

The site for this project was on land at Kingcott Farm, situated between two villages. The design therefore had to be fitting of its rural location.

The fabric-covered tensile structure was therefore surrounded with a wood-cladding finish to offer the facility a barn-like appearance and helping it blend seamlessly with the wider development and surroundings.

The whole ethos of this project was to create a training complex that could help Bristol Bears attract the best rugby talent and support its aspirations to become a dominant force in English and European rugby.

Working alongside the wider project team, Collinson helped deliver a high-quality product that’s capable of helping the club achieve its aspirations.

Pat Lam, Directory of Rugby at Bristol Bears said:

“The Bears High-Performance Centre is a class facility and wonderfully built...­everything we strive to do has to be about high performance and the standards, disciplines and commitment we set to ensure the Bears achieve our vision to inspire our community through rugby success. The Bears High-Performance Centre facilitates world class preparation in an elite environment."

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