Welsh Rugby Union considering artificial Millennium Stadium pitch

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Millennium Stadium pitch repairs take place during Wales' clash against Samoa on November, 2009

The Welsh Rugby Union is thinking about replacing the pitch at the Millennium Stadium with an artificial surface.

At present, the pitch is grown elsewhere before being moved into the stadium on special pallets.

The venue is set to host six games during the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the WRU believes a synthetic surface could be a practical alternative to grass.

Chief executive Roger Lewis said: "We're giving serious consideration to all the options."

Since the Cardiff stadium opened in 1999 there have been problems with the surface.

The pitch, which had to be replaced in 2009 because of a fly infestation which causes damage to root growth, has received criticism from several quarters.

Wales utility back Leigh Halfpenny spoke out after they were beaten by New Zealand in 2009.

And footballers Aaron Ramsey and Ashley Williams were critical following Wales' Euro 2012 qualifying defeat to England in March 2011.

The International Rugby Board has already approved the use of artificial pitches consisting of a stone base layer, on top of which is a thick black rubber shock pad and a covering of green yearn 5cm deep with an in-fill of black rubber crumbs.

Lewis accepted that there have been major concerns over the state of the pitch at the stadium since it was opened in 1999.

"We've always had issues with the playing surface at the stadium," he said on BBC Radio Wales.

"That's certainly is no fault of the outstanding staff we've got who've been making the best of what is a very difficult situation."

He revealed that last August the WRU had almost approved the installation of a hybrid pitch at the stadium, similar to the one at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.

That system uses a weave of artificial grass and turf.

But with the governing bodies of rugby and football recently approving a new pitch system, Mr Lewis said the situation had changed.

"What's come up over the past few months is a completely artificial surface, not only for rugby but for football as well and both the IRB [International Rugby Board] and Fifa have standardised and approved this sort of pitch use," he said.

"In about six weeks' time you'll see the first professional rugby game played on such a pitch in Saracens."

The English Aviva Premiership club will play on an artificial pitch when they move to their new Allianz Park home in February.

"That'll give us a better idea of how this pitch can sustain full-on professional rugby," added Lewis.

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83 comments

  • Comment posted by nat206, at 15:27 16 Dec 2012

    This is the Welsh national Rugby stadium, and one of the most impressive rugby stadia around. If the WRU weren't so concerned in milking as much money as possible out of it, and stop hosting concerts, the turf might be given a fighting chance to mature and make the Millennium Stadium the proud RUGBY stadium that it should be.

  • Comment posted by U15318236, at 17:21 16 Dec 2012

    So, it wont be the Green,Green Grass of home no more....

  • Comment posted by U14901231, at 16:56 16 Dec 2012

    They should lay two feet of soil then turf, and water, mow and roll it regularly. It's called a paying field. Not paletted plastic please!!!

  • Comment posted by U15517592, at 00:02 17 Dec 2012

    As an aussie, i've been to the millenium only once and it was great, a real great atmospherein fairness and a cracking night out down there.

    The pitch definatly needs addressing though, maybe you should go half/half, that seems to work well at other stadiums

  • Comment posted by U15301732, at 21:59 16 Dec 2012

    @33 Congrats on becoming the next pope, when do you start ? Maybe you should see a doctor too about those split sides, that cant be healthy?

    Incase you didnt know, we are in a recession, and people tend to start saving close to christmas, which could perhaps be why people cannot afford to go to every game?

    Also, come to the stadium sometime if you want to witness the atmosphere

  • Comment posted by welshraf, at 17:29 16 Dec 2012

    I know allot of people who have quite bad injuries too knees off this kind of turf. I myself dislocated my knee because there is too much grip. If it been on grass my foot would of slipped around instead of bedding in.

  • Comment posted by U11743023, at 16:08 16 Dec 2012

    If i thought for one minute that a plastic pitch would IMPROVE the performances of the Welsh team, I would be in total favour, but it wont.

    The Liberty has been voted as the best pitch in the Premier AND thats a mixture of plastic and grass.......works for the Liberty which hosts far more games than the Ms ever will, so why not?

  • Comment posted by lifelongrugbyfan, at 15:39 16 Dec 2012

    The grass is removed for concerts and other events that do not require it such as boxing and speedway. I would doubt that the artificial grass would be removable and would potentially limit the opportunities to put on other events or risk damage to the surface if they are held anyway.

    The bottom line is that it is a rugby stadium and I'm fed up with seeing players slipping and scrums sliding.

  • Comment posted by dragonsbreath, at 16:24 17 Dec 2012

    John@67, yep, it's exactly like your brilliant car analogy! Give me a tiny broken down stadium with no sight lines, dangerous seating, ancient fitments and zero access...but a field of grass in the middle any day!
    That's what you meant, right? Cos you can't change the playing...surface...hang on. Things are unravelling. You and me, we're gonna look stoopid if we're not careful...

  • Comment posted by TheLastKingOfEngland, at 10:33 17 Dec 2012

    @52 Can't you just accept a little bit of criticism? We've all got our own opinion as to what makes a good stadium and he just doesn't like the Millenium, it does have it's faults and no one is going to convince me of the value of the roof. Still a decent stadium but don't just start shouting the guy down because you don't agree.

  • Comment posted by U15522366, at 10:21 17 Dec 2012

    Lets not turn this into another Wales v England debate please!

    This is about a pitch and stadium.

  • Comment posted by TheLastKingOfEngland, at 10:20 17 Dec 2012

    Well it's about time. It's been obvious for a long time that the pitch wasn't up to standard. Good to see they're looking at all options. Interesting to see how it will work out.

  • Comment posted by mundo, at 08:27 17 Dec 2012

    a majority of pitches now have this technology,pys has had it since stadium was built and there is very little difference to a natural grass pitch

  • Comment posted by Will123bay, at 01:09 17 Dec 2012

    As an Englishmen I went to the MS in 2002 to see Wales v Eng in the 6 nations. Although we won it was easily the best rugby atmosphere I've witnessed and I've been to 5/6nation games at Twickenham & Murrrayfield in the past and also a certain World Cup in New Zealand.

    Although I wouldn't mind tasting the atmosphere in Dublin mind for a 6 nations weekend. Think that could be pretty decent.

  • Comment posted by U14332681, at 21:55 16 Dec 2012

    Can't see the big thing about this I'm sure a few of the grounds are artificial, isn't Twickenham 30% artificial. If it makes the pitch better just get on with it!

  • Comment posted by Richard, at 20:19 16 Dec 2012

    Other stadiums around the UK that host major and regular sporting events, along with concerts and other events seem to manage without having artificial grass. I would have thought a venue with the prestige of the Millenium Stadium ought to be able to get some decent turf.

  • Comment posted by U14749437, at 19:19 16 Dec 2012

    Isn't Saracens new ground in North London going to have an artificial pitch? I saw a piece on it during Aviva Premiership highlights a couple of weeks back and it looked pretty good. Artificial in name but it has other technologies added to it which makes it soft and able to easily take a stud.

  • Comment posted by U3246151, at 17:10 16 Dec 2012

    Despite being a great venue, the pitch at the MS is rubbish and has attracted criticism for years.

    I'm not opposed to artificial pitches but I'm concerned that "home" advantage may be boosted (see QPR pitch in the 90s) and that the game may lose yet more of its variety due to absence of natural influences on playing conditions. What footwear will players wear...can it take a stud? Is it safe?

  • Comment posted by slick1976, at 16:48 16 Dec 2012

    There are artificial lighting systems that can be used for stadia grass growing, I believe Middlesborough use(d) this.

    Happy Xmas to all the Millenium Stadium groundstaff :(

  • Comment posted by U15446168, at 16:30 16 Dec 2012

    Rugby on a artificial pitch, this is ridiculous, it would take away a lot of the uncertainties that happen in the game, wet pitch, sliding slipping it is all part of the game, this seems that the WRU are just thinking about money rather than just getting on with playing RUGBY, day in day out ,players play RUGBY IN ALL WEATHERS, Rugby should be played on grass, as for football, stuff them!

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