WRU posts pitch safety advice over hot, dry summer

The Welsh Rugby Union has issued pitch safety advice to community clubs for the new season after a record-breaking summer.

Wales recorded its hottest ever day on 24 June with temperatures soaring to 35.9C in Cardiff, while July was the driest since records began 190 years ago.

The weather has left rugby pitches across the country bone dry, with surfaces as hard as concrete.

With the obvious injury risks to players, the WRU has written to all community clubs with guidance on how to assess the conditions before next week's opening matches.

It also says clubs can reschedule fixtures without risking any sanction up until mid-September, while match officials can overrule decisions on safety grounds.

The WRU recommends stopping or delaying play against a series of check points.

They include uneven surfaces, where holes, cracks or sudden dips could cause a player to fall.

Clubs should also assess grass coverage, looking for bare and hard patches in contact zones (scrum, tackle areas, in-goal), along with surface hardness and shock absorbency.

"We are saying to our players and our clubs that it is very much 'game on' in Wales, but with the caveat that player safety and welfare must be an absolute priority when the decision is made at a local level about whether or not to play games," said WRU community director Geraint John.

"Games can go ahead where it is safe to do so but, equally, clubs and referees are entirely free to make the call to reschedule on safety grounds if there are any doubts whatsoever."

The current guidance lasts until 13 September, when an update will be issued.