Looking for artificial answer to question of perfect pitch

PONTYPRIDD’S Welsh Cup semifinal against Merthyr has caused a huge stir not just in Welsh rugby, but in the world of artificial pitches.

Gradually, 3G pitches have become commonplace in grassroots rugby over the past decade or two, but the debacle at Sardis Road last weekend — when seven players came away with near third degree burns — has thrown up a debate about their use.

Normally, the pitches are perfectly safe and their introduction has prevented mud-baths, flooded pitches and postponements.

With artificial pitches used across Wales in the Principality Premiership, as well as the majority of Welsh Premier League football clubs, we explain what they are and when they can cause injury.

What is a 3G pitch?

3G (third generation) pitches came in to replace the old sand-based 2G pitches at the turn of the millenium. There is no such thing as a ‘4G’ pitch, as recognised by the artificial pitch industry.

Companies sometimes market their pitches as ‘4G’ or even ‘5G’, but the 3G pitch which is in use at Sardis Road and other rugby grounds like Cardiff Arms Park and Saracens’ Allianz Park is the best available at the moment.

The longer strands of artificial grass give it a more natural appearance and feel and it’s usually fitted with a drainage system and underlying shock-absorbing surface.

The pitches became very popular for five aside football before coming into wider use in 11-aside soccer and rugby. Scottish Premiership sides Kilmarnock and Hamilton have recently installed 3G pitches, though Football League regulations have prohibited them.

3G pitches usually cost around £500,000 to install.

What do the pitches look like?

A normal feature of a 3G pitch is the ‘rubber crumb’, thousands of black rubber pellets scattered on the green surface.

The rubber is usually made from recycled tyres and helps replicate the characteristics of grass, cushioning players’ falls.

James Dooley, of Soft Surfaces Limited, explained why the black rubber bits are used, instead of the sand used on 2G surfaces.

He said: “These rubber infill particles help to keep the fake grass fibres upright and replicate natural playing characteristics of real grass. The rubber crumb can also help to cushion players’ muscles and joints during training and matches to prevent injury and strain.

“It’s important to keep a 3G fake grass pitch in top condition by regularly redistributing the rubber infill and topping it up if it becomes low, this will maintain good playing qualities and prevent the turf from becoming slippery.”

Are 3G pitches safe?

Many have raised issues complaining that artificial pitches cause injury. But in 2013, the Journal of Sports Medicine published a study looking at 1.5 million hours of training and matches on 3G pitches.

It’s widely believed 3G is much safer than its artificial turf predecessors. And many of the injuries initially sustained were joint-related rather than the burns suffered at Sardis Road.

The study said there was: “no evidence that playing matches or training on artificial turf raises the risk of soccer players sustaining injury. In fact, the evidence suggests that the risk of some injuries and some subgroups might be lowered.”

So the danger comes when the rubber particles aren’t ‘topped up’ — then the surface is less cushioned and more slippy.

Another study, by Fuller Et Al in 2010, concluded that “there were no clear differences in the incidence, severity or injury burden of injuries between matches played on artificial and grass surfaces.”

Another concern has been whether the rubber crumbs themselves are safe. But the US Environmental Agency, among others, has concluded the rubber isn’t harmful whatsoever.

Is playing rugby on 3G different to football?

Playing contact rugby union on a 3G pitch is an entirely different matter to playing football. To be passed fit to host a rugby match, an artificial pitch must have an up-to-date certificate that demonstrates compliance with World Rugby rules.

World Rugby Regulation 22 is the law that says every pitch must pass tests to ensure there are no problems with energy-sapping, head impact, skin friction or joints damage.

RFU guidelines on artificial pitches say: “There is no way to tell if an AGP (artificial grass pitch) is suitable for contact rugby union simply by looking at it.”

Simply put, there are more hoops to jump through in rugby than football.