Plastic fantastic

This season Newcastle Falcons will join Saracens in having a plastic pitch. Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about artificial pitches, but were afraid to ask.

What is an artificial turf pitch?

An artificial rugby pitch meets the specific requirements of the sport, including a shockpad to protect against injuries, and uses specially selected fibres based on the characteristics required by the client. The pitch looks like a normal grass field, if a bit brighter, and features blades of ‘grass’ like a regular pitch, on top of an infill of rubber crumb that varies in height from 40mm to 65mm depending on the primary sport to be played on it.

All IRB-approved footwear can be used on artificial surfaces, but trainers or flat shows are not recommended for players.

What are the advantages of an artificial pitch?

A synthetic pitch can stand up to far more use than a regular grass pitch, allowing more events to be held. Perhaps more relevant to Kingston Park, an artificial pitch does not deteriorate in extreme weather, particularly heavy rain and a lack of sunlight. We are told that having a better and more reliable pitch will allow the Falcons to play a more attacking and exciting game in the coming season than was seen in 2013/14. Lower maintenance costs than for natural grass will also be an attraction for the management of the Falcons and other rugby clubs that have gone down this route.

Who is installing the new KP pitch?

The new pitch is being laid by SIS, an IRB-approved company that claims to be recognised as “the UK market leader in the installation of synthetic rugby pitches”. SIS installed the artificial pitch at Blue Star (AKA Druid Park) in August 2007 and Saracens’ Allianz Park.

Kingston Park is following Allianz Park in having the premium SIS Rugger MF pitch installed.

What does the RFU think?

The RFU backs the use of synthetic surfaces to provide facilities for use throughout the year.

Which other rugby clubs have artificial pitches?

Ever the pioneers, Saracens became the first professional English club to use a synthetic pitch when they moved to Allianz Park in north London in February 2013. Other clubs to use such surfaces include Burnage, Blackheath, Penryn and Maidenhead.

An interesting question: Do artificial pitches freeze?

The AGP is not a water based system and so is significantly less prone to freezing than natural pitches. However in very cold conditions they can freeze as quantities of water can be held within the rubber crumb infill. In light frosts the brushing process should loosen the infill and in more severe conditions the tine system could be used. These operations would ensure minimal disruptions to play during a frost

Products such as "air dried salt" can also be applied to the pitch (without damaging the system or fibres) to assist with excessive frost.

(From Maidenhead RFC website)

Are plastic pitches the way forward?

With the ever-present concerns over the technical quality of players coming through the ranks in England and consequently the national team’s ability to compete with its southern hemisphere rivals, who benefit from milder winters, they may well be the future in England. The commonly-held belief that it is impossible to play an attacking game on a muddy pitch might make artificial pitches more attractive to Premiership club owners, though Directors of Rugby might be wary of giving up an excuse for unattractive gameplans.

The Daily Mail’s Chris Foy expressed his support for plastic pitches in December 2012. He has a good point that if we are not going to see expansive rugby attempted regularly on muddy pitches, and if we are not going to get summer rugby (and I for one don’t want that), then artificial turf might be the best way to improve entertainment value.