Top Tips On Groundskeeping From Manchester Rugby Club: The team at STIGA have always known their robot mowers were a cut above the rest, but now they’re absolutely scrumming their way to glory on rugby pitches too.
When star signings Mow Marler and Cutney Lawns joined the grounds squad at Manchester Rugby Club, it wasn’t just a transfer… it was a turf-formation!
Tim Holmes of Manchester Rugby Club shared:
“Mow Marler and Cutney Lawns joined the Manchester Rugby Club Grounds team back in October 2024, having signed from STIGA. As part of the partnership, STIGA provided full training on how to get the most from the mowers, and they made an immediate impact. Their work ethic has been incredible! They operate day and night, seven days a week, and we saw an instant improvement in the quality of the pitches.”
Top Tips On Groundskeeping From Manchester Rugby Club
Naturally, STIGA had to get the inside scoop from the brilliant volunteers who care for the club’s four full-size rugby pitches. Here’s what they had to say…
How often do the robots mow each area?
Chutney and Mow are pretty much out every day from Mid-March to late November. They cut a pitch each in just under 3 days so each pitch is cut twice a week.
Roughly how much staff time have the robots saved each week?
Before the mowers, our team would just about have the time to cut the pitches once a week, but this meant there were also cuttings to clear after, especially in the summer. Cutting each pitch would take approx 90 mins, and clearing the cuttings another 90-120mins. So approx 7.5 hours a week, that is now retained to do other pitch maintenance work, such as slitting and verti-draining
Has this reduced overtime or weekend work?
To be honest, it’s all overtime, but none of it paid, as we have a wonderful team of very hardworking volunteers managing the grounds, but it has greatly reduced the pressure on the team each week
Have you noticed improvements in turf density or overall health?
Yes, very much so. The constant cutting keeps the grass shorter and stronger
How does the cut quality compare to traditional mowers?
The constant cutting means the grass doesn’t get long at all, and it’s kept at the perfect level
Does frequent, light cutting improve presentation?
Very much so. It keeps everything trim and neat. The biggest difference is when the ground is wet or soft, and we couldn’t use the tractor to cut the pitches. The mowers being so light allows for constant cutting without any damage to the surface
Have players noticed a difference in surface quality?
Yes, when the grass used to get longer, it was commented on and more difficult to play and train on.
Has match-day presentation improved?
The constant cutting often means we don’t have to roll or cut before a match day, meaning the pitch is always in peak condition
In true rugby fashion, Mow Marler and Cutney Lawns even marked their arrival at the club with matching tattoos. Rumour has it the STIGA team think they’ve earned a few more for their tireless service, maybe a championship badge next?
You can read more about STIGA’s autonomous robot mowers and other STIGA products here: www.stiga.com/uk/
To read more about the STIGA partnership with England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) here: www.stiga.com/uk/stiga-x-rfu
For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news
Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.
You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters
