Rees-Zammit calls for end to top-flight rugby artificial pitches
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 14:03 · Archive
Wales and Bristol star Louis Rees-Zammit has called for an end to artificial playing surfaces in top-flight rugby after suffering friction burns.
Louis Rees-Zammit called for an end to artificial pitches in top-flight rugby after Bristol suffered a 30-7 defeat at Saracens on Saturday. The Wales and Bristol wing posted a photo on social media showing friction burns to his right leg sustained during the match at the StoneX Stadium, asking: 'Can we please stop playing on these Astroturf pitches!! Someone do something about it!!'
Three Gallagher Premiership clubs play on artificial surfaces: Saracens, Gloucester and Newcastle. Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam disclosed that he had rested three key players—Pedro Rubiolo, AJ MacGinty and Steven Luatua—rather than risk them on the pitch in north London. 'They came off big injuries last year and so it wasn't worth putting them on that pitch,' Lam said. 'If we were playing the game at home or if it was a semi-final, they would have played.'
Saracens hooker Jamie George acknowledged scepticism about artificial surfaces, saying: 'I think everyone reacts differently to these kind of pitches. Everyone's entitled to their opinion about them.' Research published in 2024 analysing knee injuries in English top-level rugby over twenty years found they were 44 per cent more likely on artificial surfaces.
How it is being reported
- Bristol Bears' Louis Rees-Zammit demands end to artificial surfaces"Someone do something about it!"BristolLive · 14 Oct, 13:38
- End use of artificial pitches - Rees-ZammitWales and Bristol star Louis Rees-Zammit calls for the end of artificial playing surfaces in top-flight rugby.BBC Bristol · 13 Oct, 11:13
In this story: Louis Rees-Zammit · Bristol Bears · Saracens · Wales · Pat Lam · Jamie George · Gloucester · Newcastle
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