Artificial rugby pitches

[p.Tah]

Watching the November test series it is evident there are issues with some of the grass rugby pitches. The surface at Stade de France could not handle the scrums and was shredded in large sections, Millennium stadium is very boggy, whilst Murrayfield has been attacked by a parasite. A good pitch is conducive to a good game of rugby, these pitches are not up to standard for the professional game.

Earlier this year, Saracens installed a £600,000 artificial pitch. There was some concern surround the surface initially. How would it hold up to scrums? Would players get 'turf burn' from diving/sliding on the surface?

The modern day artificial pitch is vastly different from the materials used a decade or so ago and it appears that the scrum and 'burn' issues have not eventuated.

Should the professional game be played on the modern artificial pitches?

 

[Bardon]

I believe Cardiff Blues were the 1st opponents for Sarries on their new artificial and that inspired them to install an artificial pitch of their own in the Arms Park.

The move by the Blues is also seen as a test for an eventual replacement of the Millenium stadium surface with an artificial pitch.

With so many major stadiums having to be multi-sport and multipurpose to justify their expense I think it makes a lot of sense that in the future they would move to an artificial surface as long as none of the sports played there have regulations against it.

 

[ChargerWA]

Modern stadiums just aren't conducive to grass health. I think it has to be the way forward. Yanks have been playing NFL on them since 2002.

 

[TOCC]

Don't go ripping those grass pitches up just yet, its not all pro-artificial turf in the NFL, in fact there has been a rise in frustration at the injuries and physical soreness caused by artificial turf in recent years.


FieldTurf is the most commonly used artificial turf for NFL teams, one study has concluded that in the NFL ankle and knee sprains are 22% more commons and ACL injuries are 68% more common on FieldTurf then grass.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/14/us-nfl-leg-injuries-idUSBRE88D1KT20120914


In a survey of NFL players:

Recurring comments noted at the end of the survey include this one: “Artificial turf is much harder on the body with joint soreness and makes for tougher work. Southern grass fields are the best.” More than 89% of the players agreed, believing artificial turf to be the cause of more soreness and fatigue that playing on grass. The majority (82.6%) also believe that artificial turf is more likely to contribute to injury and almost 90% believe that playing on artificial turf is more likely to shorten their career.

http://images.nflplayers.com/mediaResources/files/Surface Survey 2010.pdf

 

[Rob42]

Or you could set up the stadium up so that you roll the grass field outside between matches:

(University of Phoenix stadium, Glendale, Arizona, US)

 

[teach]

Forsyth Barr stadium (the Highlanders home turf) seems to have it sorted. A mix of grass and artificial fibres. Have not heard any complaints about it.
Maybe a mix will give the best of both worlds.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Forsyth Barr stadium (the Highlanders home turf) seems to have it sorted. A mix of grass and artificial fibres. Have not heard any complaints about it.
Maybe a mix will give the best of both worlds.

There seem to be a few using similar a technique.
The system used is called Deso Grassmaster and here is a list of the grounds where it is used:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desso_GrassMaster

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Or you could set up the stadium up so that you roll the grass field outside between matches:

(University of Phoenix stadium, Glendale, Arizona, US)

doesn't pheonix have more days of sun that any other place in the US?
If you cant grow grass there you should give it away.

According to data compiled by the National Climatic Data Center, Greater Phoenix basks in sunshine during 85 percent of the daylight hours — more often than any other major metropolitan area in the United States.
http://www.visitphoenix.com/about-phoenix/weather/index.aspx

 

[p.Tah]

There seem to be a few using similar a technique.
The system used is called Deso Grassmaster and here is a list of the grounds where it is used:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desso_GrassMaster

I see that Wembly Stadium has this hybrid grass. If you recall when the Wallabies played the Barbarians there in 2008 Kepu and Dunning had those horrific injuries after the turf gave way. That was pure grass and had been laid many times before. They then laid the Deso Grassmaster and it appears there haven't been any complaints since.

 

[p.Tah]

Don't go ripping those grass pitches up just yet, its not all pro-artificial turf in the NFL, in fact there has been a rise in frustration at the injuries and physical soreness caused by artificial turf in recent years.

Interesting. I wonder if training 100% of the time on the surface could cause that. In athletics, sprinters mix their training between running on grass and on the synthetic track to minimise fatigue and impact injuries.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Interesting. I wonder if training 100% of the time on the surface could cause that. In athletics, sprinters mix their training between running on grass and on the synthetic track to minimise fatigue and impact injuries.

I also think that the additional grip between boot and surface creates an issue in that on natural turf that will often feel the weakest link whereas a joint become the weakest link.
There was no astro turf in the savannah.

 

[I like to watch]

Seems remarkably similar to the Strathayr systems that are used in all the larger stadia in Oz.
http://www.strathayr.com/turf-systems/strathayr-sportsfield-system

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Seems remarkably similar to the Strathayr systems that are used in all the larger stadia in Oz.
http://www.strathayr.com/turf-systems/strathayr-sportsfield-system

Interesting.
None of those surfaces that I know of is as good as forsyth Barr but that may be something to do with the breed of grass used.

 

[Brumby Jack]

I do know that Murrayfield is suffering from nematode and it's pretty bad by the looks of it.

The IRB had their medical conference last week and declared player welfare is our priority. Yet the condition of the pitches is a disgrace and they're lucky no serious injuries have occurred.

It could be they are putting dollars before sense considering law 1.1a says the pitch must be safe for play.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Here's a good story from back in 2000.

Canberra Stadium was being re turfed in time for the Olympic football matches that would take place there. The local turf supplier was overlooked for a company that was based in Far North Queensland. The turf was being laid in August (still in Winter) and wasn't growing/knitting at all and in some places was dying. Not at all a surprise considering the turf laid was meant for tropical conditions.

In the end they had to make a decision. One option was 'just paint it green and no one would be able to tell' which wasn't going to work considering some of the players involved were worth a fair bit of money.

In the end, they caved and got the local supplier on board just in time for the Olympics.

The person who came up with the painting idea I worked with and after that am still convince they are an idiot.

 

[p.Tah]

It appears that Wales will install the Deso hybrid real/artificial pitch at Millennium stadium

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wru-plan-33m-hybrid-pitch-6377046

 

[RoffsChoice]

It appears that Wales will install the Deso hybrid real/artificial pitch at Millennium stadium

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wru-plan-33m-hybrid-pitch-6377046

Blues talk them into it?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

From the IRB Web site: http://irbplayerwelfare.com/?documentid=57

Regulation 22 - Standard Relating to the Use of Artificial Rugby Turf

Technology in the area of artificial playing surfaces has improved over time and artificial playing surfaces are widely used including in Rugby. The IRB has produced the IRB Artificial Rugby Turf Performance Specification to set a minimum standard for artificial playing surfaces which may be used in rugby. The IRB Artificial Rugby Turf Performance Specification stipulates the testing and approval procedures which Manufacturers and other entities involved in the installation of artificial playing surfaces must comply with in order for their products to be approved for use in Rugby. The Game may not be played on any artificial surface which does not meet the IRB Artificial Rugby Turf Performance Specification, the requirements of Regulation 22 and Law 1 of the Laws of the Game. The IRB Artificial Rugby Turf Performance Specification will be amended over time as technology and research evolves in the area of artificial playing surfaces.

The IRB Artificial Rugby Turf Performance Specification is on the IRB Web Site here:
http://irbplayerwelfare.com/?documentid=67