MAINTENANCE OF
GRASS PITCHES
FOR RUGBY
Introduction
The Guidance Note on Grass Pitches for Rugby
lays out the essential and necessary processes
that clubs should follow when improving,
upgrading or constructing a new pitch. This work
will have been carried out by a contractor and
supervised by the clubs appointed consultant.
Once this type of project is completed and
clear of the contractual defects period, ground
staff should follow the maintenance regime
laid down by the contract. This Guidance Note
concentrates upon the maintenance and upkeep
of existing grass pitches.
2
Performance quality
standards
Knowledge of your local ground conditions and existing pitch drainage is essential, together with the current
and future demand and usage. This will include matches, training and mini rugby. Is there an irrigation
scheme? Is it pumped? Once a realistic level of quality and standard has been chosen for a particular pitch,
then the club and ground staff should endeavour to achieve the desired results through the effective
management of the pitch. It is recognised that standards and desired parameters will probably not be
achieved all of the time, especially as the season progresses. However, the intent should be to aspire to these
standards throughout the whole year.
The Institute of Groundmanships IOG Perfomance Quality Standards - Rugby document lays out in detail a
range of methods that can be used in testing the performance of a rugby pitch.
Equipment and machinery
Maintenance equipment and machinery can be purchased or, where appropriate, hired. Investing in good
quality, up-to-date equipment will greatly increase efficiency and make maintenance work less time consuming.
Clubs should set aside a budget for new equipment, annual servicing and replacement of worn out implements.
Machinery can be hired out and clubs may also contract the work out, saving on initial capital costs and the
problems associated with maintaining the equipment. To undertake successful maintenance a club should have
the following equipment:
Mower - various models fulfil different requirements. Cylinder mowers produce a better quality finish
Chain harrow/roller - to break up clumps and re-level the surface. Heavy rolling is no longer considered
suitable due to adverse effects on the root zone
Tractor
Hand tools - spade, fork, half moon brush, drag brush, edging shears, wheelbarrow and measuring equipment
Stockpile of sand, medium fine, good draining sand - to be used on wet areas to help save fixtures.
Suitable sands (medium sands) range from particle size of 0.125mm to 1.0mm (whose principle particle
range is between 0.25mm and 0.75mm) for amelioration and top dressing of winter pitch surfaces
Expensive equipment may be hired as and when required.
Aerator - tractor mounted or pedestrian
Sprayer - for application of liquid fertiliser and pesticides. Health and safety reasons may make it preferable
to buy in this work through a contractor, as spraying requires a licence
3
Typical maintenance schedule:
September October November
The start of the season. Keep The mowing will still need to The weather may now be
on top of the mowing ( aiming be done. Make sure that the breaking to give a lot more rain.
to maintain the grass height grass is being cut properly by Now is the time to give the
at between 50mm and a ensuring that the blades are pitches a good spiking albeit
maximum of 75mm during correctly set to cut and that with a slitter or aerator. Do it
the season) as there will still it is not too wet on the leaf to on a dry day if possible and
hopefully be a good amount of mow. It is always good to chain leave the pattern in for the
growth. If at all possible, chain harrow when there is morning weekends games. The last cut
harrow the pitch after each dew on the grass. This knocks of the year may well be this
weekend. This will stand the off the wet and leaves you with month. If the weather was to
grass up, replace a few of the brilliant pattern. stay mild, you may get a little
divots from the games and growth, but one or two frosts at
is a great way to put a good Look to apply your autumn night tend to stop most growth.
pattern on the pitch. and winter feed towards the
end of the month, something
like 4-12-12 (nitrogen-
phosphate-potash), low in
nitrogen, high in phosphate
and high in potash to
strengthen cell walls and roots
of the grass. Use the weather
forecast as a guide. Do not
fertilise if frost is forecast.
Have a couple of hand forks
available to hand fork away any
surface water on match days.
The referee will be grateful
for his-her touch-judges runs
being hand forked on the
morning of a wet match day.
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Much will depend upon local ground conditions, seasonal weather conditions (particularly rainfall), land drainage and
adjacent topography, programme of use, irrigation, equipment and machinery. Further advice and guidance can be
obtained from your local agronomist and the organisations and agencies listed in Useful Contacts on back page.
December January February
Typically one of the hardest Very often the coldest month. Wet and cold again. Do try to
months for a Groundsman. Go onto the grass only when keep xtures played by chain
Try to keep machinery off the necessary. Keep players off harrowing and rolling with the
pitches as much as possible. in either very wet or very cold mower. Make sure that you do
If you can, chain harrow the conditions. Use the harrow spike with the slitter or aerator
pitches in two directions - the and mower roller only when again this month. Having rolled
earlier in the week the better. you have to. Hand fork any the pitch with the mower for
That way, you have replaced standing water away before it only a few weeks now, the
divots, put a pattern on and freezes. If the weather allows, surface will have become
now have no need to go onto get another spiking done. compacted so it needs the
the pitch apart from marking aerator. This is imperative at this
it out. time of the year.
If there is a cold snap, try to As the end of the month nears,
roll the pitch with the mower. It the weather may warm up a
will help to save matches if the little. If funds allow, look to order
surface is at. A well-grassed another feed. (4-12-12)
pitch will cope better than
a bare one. Make a decision
in the club as to your policy:
do you want to be playing on
frost-bound pitches?
If you need to play a game and
the forecast is for frost, use a
mower roller after you have
chain harrowed the pitch.
Use the stockpile of sand to
topdress any areas that may
be rutted after scrums, rucks
or mauls. Two men and a
wheelbarrow can move and
spread a fair amount of sand. If
you work as a team, you can be
chain harrowing and spreading
sand at the same time.
If however you decide that it is
too hard to play on, keep off the
pitch and let the referee see
that it is rutted and unplayable.
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March April April/May -
remedial works
Put on a feed if the If at all possible, try and get Using a tractor with grassland
weather allows. 7-0-21 is your cutters down to around tyres, topdress with specified
recommended, medium 4mm. This will allow you to sportsturf sand at a minimum
nitrogen, no phosphate, and work the seed into the soil rate of 60 tonne per pitch. Make
high potash to strengthen roots much easier when you begin sure that it is spread evenly and
and encourage top growth the remedial work at the end of that any low or bad areas get a
whilst maintaining feed to the the month. Get the last match bit more sand. Deep tine each
roots. The grass will begin to date in your mind and sort pitch to a depth of 8-10 inches
grow, so it may be time to give it everything out to happen as on 3 inch centres with suitable
a cut later on in the month. soon as possible after the final heave on the machine. Brush
whistle of the last game of the and chain harrow as much
Start to plan and organise what season. Have your contractor of the sand into all the holes
remedial works you think you in the very next day as the and low spots. Once the sand
are going to be doing at the sand that you have already dressing has been dragged
end of April. Feed, topdress ordered is being delivered that and brushed to a level you are
and also speak to your morning. Ensure that things satisfied with, then you can
contractor as to his availability like the seed and feed are on begin to seed. A disc seeder
the day after your last game. site before you stop playing. would be best as it cuts, lifts and
You need to catch any spring drops the seed into the ground
showers that are around for and rolls it flat again in one pass.
the next month in order to
achieve the best results. This will ensure that the seed
is in the ground at the right
depth and covered, ready
to grow. Then apply a good
feed of 10-15-10. This is a well
balanced feed- high nitrogen,
enough phosphate to last until
November and enough potash
to keep the roots growing.
Spread evenly across the pitch
and then roll with the mower
to make sure that the seed is
in contact with the soil. Then
irrigate as soon as possible or
wait for rainfall. Growth will be
visible in about 10-12 days.
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May June August
Try to keep the surface moist Keep on top of the mowing. Begin to get ready for the
to allow for best growing Let it begin to grow out to season ahead. Check all goal
conditions. Irrigate if possible 50mm towards the end of posts and sockets for safety.
during dry spells. Keep off the the month. If there is a dry It may be 12 months since
pitch for at least a fortnight. spell, try and keep the areas anyone looked at these posts.
Then, just cut it at about irrigated. This will be difficult Mark the pitch lines out using
50mm with a rotary mower to do if it is a long dry spell, but a safe paint. At this time of the
if possible. Do cut once a the more grass you can keep year lines are either being cut
week after that in different now the better it will be late on out, washed out or grown out.
directions. This will help the in the season. Apply a late summer fertiliser
seedling to tiller and to form a like 14-0-9 mid-late August to
plant much faster. You can let bring the sward up to a fresh
the clippings fly once again. A standard for the start of the
slow release nitrogen based new season.
fertiliser like 25-5-12 should
be applied to maintain growth Keep the mowing going and
through the summer months. irrigate if you need to. Restrict
the training to identified areas
and rotate repetitive practises.
Do not let the coaches ruin
a seasons work by being too
July keen in the summer! If the
training areas start to wear
Mowing and watering will be
out, give them extra sand and
the main task. Get a strimmer
perhaps a watering and a feed.
and do as much mowing of
They are intensely used at this
the outside of the pitches as
time of year, but need to be
possible, covering general
looked after. The longer they
maintenance of the grounds
train off the pitch the better.
perimeter and goal posts. Make
the place as tidy as you can, it will
not grow back as quickly and the
whole ground will look attractive
to any newcomers.
In summary
The key is to look after your pitch properly. The biggest and most
important job is to aerate it as often as you can. Begin to look for
a spiker of your own to supplement the use of the soil reliever.
7
IRFU Consultant Agronomist IOG (Ireland)
Mr Eddie Connaughton Mr Donal Kearney
EBC Ltd IOG Consultant & Development Ofcer
48 Roselawn The Institute of Groundsmanship
Lucan Mayne
Co. Dublin Clogherhead
Ireland Co. Louth
Ireland
Sportsturf Science Consultants
Dr. Tim Butler
Sportsturf Science Agronomist
Sportsturf Consultancy Ireland
Deerpark
Lattin
Co. Tipperary
Ireland
The IRFU shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from the use of or
reliance on the information contained in this Guidance Note. The IRFU reserves the right
to amend or withdraw the information contained in this Guidance Note. Produced in
association with the RFU.
