Six Nations: BT Murrayfield fourth loudest stadium

Cardiff's Millennium Stadium topped the table with the highest average. Picture: Getty

The decibel (dB) levels have been measured at the six fixtures so far in this year’s competition – and the Millennium Stadium’s average of 92.0dB was comfortably the highest of the lot.

The top reading of 100dB in Cardiff was beaten only by the roar at full-time of Ireland’s barnstorming win over France – when the Aviva crowd in Dublin peaked at a one-off 101.0dB.

Bottom of the pile is Stade de France, which hosted the France v Scotland match on the opening week, where the vast French support did not have a try to cheer.

Reporters were armed with sound meters to take the LAeq reading – the total sound energy over a given period of time – at each game.

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The thrilling Wales v England match in Cardiff led the way in terms of average, followed by Dublin, Twickenham, BT Murrayfield, Rome and Paris, while the Aviva and the Millennium stadiums were the only venues to break the 100dB mark at their loudest.

The sound tests were carried out by the Press Association in association with Pulsar Instruments, whose managing director Sarah Brack was at Twickenham to watch England take on Italy.

She said: “Twickenham should be much louder, there are more fans there, but it depends on the impact of the game, how many tries are scored and such.

“The decision was made to take each game from the national anthems to the finish of the game so there could be no peak prior to the event because of fireworks and pyrotechnics.”

The Wales-England clash was preceded by just such a display but the stadium’s retractable roof was left open. Despite that, the average of 92.0dB at the game was more than two decibels higher than the nearest challenger, Ireland v France.

At the other end of the scale was France’s low-key 15-8 home win over Scotland, which limped to 85.1dB and that only after a passionate late rendition of La Marseillaise saw the French crowd hit 90.2dB.

Twickenham in fact finished only third in the average readings with 88.4dB and behind all but France-Scotland at optimum level with 91.1dB. England’s opposition, Italy, and the 47-17 scoreline may have played a part.

Italy v Ireland and Scotland v Wales also scored low, perhaps a product of defeats for the home sides even if Scotland ran their opponents close.

RAISING THE ROOF: GROUND-BY-GROUND

1. Millennium Stadium

(Wales v England)

:: LAeq summary average - 92.0dB

:: Highest point recorded - 100.0dB after Rhys Webb’s early try

2. Aviva Stadium

(Ireland v France)

:: LAeq average - 89.8dB

:: Highest point - 101.0dB at full-time

3. Twickenham Stadium

(England v Italy)

:: LAeq average - 88.4dB

:: Highest point - 91.1dB immediately after the anthems

4. BT Murrayfield

(Scotland v Wales)

:: LAeq average - 88.0dB

:: Highest point - 96.0dB after Stuart Hogg’s thrilling try

5. Stadio Olimpico

(Italy v Ireland)

:: LAeq average - 86.1dB

:: Highest point - 92.8dB after Sergio Parisse’s late disallowed try

6. Stade de France

(France v Scotland)

:: LAeq average - 85.1dB

:: Highest point - 90.2dB as the crowd sang the anthem after Lopez’s late penalty