Rugby weather: is today a good day for a game?

Rates a game of rugby union or league, touch footy or a training session. Rugby minds the rain least of the football codes: a wet ball makes handling harder, but the game goes on. Heat, a waterlogged pitch, storms and strong wind for the kickers count for more. GoDay finds the best 2-hour window of each day.

What it weighs, most important first

  1. Feels-like temperature
  2. Rain
  3. Wind
  4. Rain in the last 24 hours
  5. Gusts
  6. UV

Also on the page, but not in the score: wind direction.

What holds the score down

A thunderstorm holds the score at 1, and one due within two hours at 3. A feels-like above 36°C (97°F) holds it at 3. More than 50 mm of rain in the last day holds it at 3, because grounds may be closed, and rain over 8 mm an hour holds it at 4. Gusts over 75 km/h (47 mph) hold it at 3.

Daylight counts too: once it's dark the score is held at 5.

Questions

Does rain stop rugby?

Rarely. Light rain, up to 3 mm an hour, takes only a little off. Heavier rain counts for more, and past 8 mm an hour the score is held at 4. A thunderstorm is different: it holds the score at 1.

Will the pitch be heavy?

GoDay adds up the last 24 hours of rain: under 5 mm is firm, up to 15 mm soft, up to 35 mm heavy, and past that the ground may be closed. Past 50 mm the score is held at 3.

How hot is too hot for rugby?

GoDay rates a feels-like of 8 to 26°C (46 to 79°F) as ideal. Above 26°C (79°F) it starts taking points off, above 30°C (86°F) it counts against the score, and above 36°C (97°F) the score is held at 3.

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