Six Nations: How the grounds staff are preparing
For many sports fans it is the most exciting time of the year. The NatWest Six Nations is a celebration of sport and while non-rugby fans can wonder at what on earth is going on – particularly at scrum time – for those in the know each inch over the gain line, or steal from a line-out is celebrated like the winning goal in the round ball game. The six stadiums used are some of the finest in all sport and the pitches, which take some of the greatest hammerings around, are more often than not immaculate.
Turf Matters has spoken to the six people responsible for creating those surfaces.
Scotland:
Name: Jim Dawson
Role: Head Groundsman
Composition of Pitch: Desso GrassMaster
When was it laid? Spring/Summer 2014
What work will you be doing between Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations?
Over-seeding, utilising pitch lights and plenty of rest… fingers crossed!
What development or innovation has had the biggest impact on your work in the last five years?
Desso grassmaster has been a game-changer, changing all of our maintenance schedule and increasing pitch usage.
What keeps you awake at night?
Uncontrollable weather the night before a big match!
How has your job changed since you took over as Head Groundsman?
We have a bigger pitch team allowing use to undertake more detailed work both on the international pitch and training pitches. As mentioned before, the Desso has meant major changes to our maintenance and lots of learning!
What piece of equipment, yet to be invented, would make your life so much easier?
Fully automated machine to do divoting.
What is your favourite memory for a previous Six Nations Championship?
2017: Winning all three home games.
What is the best thing about a Six Nations Rugby match in your city?
Scottish passion, the fans and hopefully beating England!
What would you like to say to your fellow Six Nations Head Groundsmen?
Have a great series and enjoy the atmosphere!
England:
Name: Keith Kent
Role: RFU Head Groundsman
Composition of Pitch: Desso GrassMaster
When was it laid? Summer 2012
What work will you be doing between Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations:
Depending on what the weather is doing we will cut the pitch at least once every day. Aeration is carried out to keep the top surface open in case of any heavy rain at that time of the year. The lighting rigs will be out on the pitch.
What development or innovation has had the biggest impact on your work in the last five years?
The Desso GrassmMaster pitch has changed our lives! It’s the best hybrid pitch system in the world in my humble opinion. In all of my career I have never known a pitch that can withstand so much usage.
What keeps you awake at night?
The removable paint used for logos!
How has your job changed since you took over as Head Groundsman?
The new pitch five years ago has changed my job for the better in so many ways. We host more events but it also allows me to do my second favourite job which is visiting community rugby clubs up and down the whole of England, offering advice and hopefully help to other groundsmen out there.
What piece of equipment, yet to be invented, would make your life so much easier?
A magic wand that would make the grass grow in the winter like it does in the summer. And a grass seed that grows in the dark and the cold!
What is your favourite memory for a previous Six Nations Championship?
It’s hard to pick a specific game, but perhaps France in 2015 here at Twickenham. It was a fantastic game with 12 tries in total (the final score was 55-35 to England).
What is the best thing about a Six Nations Rugby match in your city?
The whole event is something so special. The atmosphere at all of the games is amazing.
What would you like to say to your fellow Six Nations Head Groundsmen?
I wish them all a very successful tournament with good weather, great pitches and the hand of friendship to them all.
Italy:
Name: Valeriano Bernardini
Role: Agronomist for CONI Servizi spa, consultant for FIGC and FIR
Composition of Pitch: Ryegrass + Bermudagrass (from November to April only as root system)
When was it laid? End of July, 2017
What work will you be doing between Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations?
Routine work and overseeding.
What development or innovation has had the biggest impact on your work in the last five years?
Growing lights.
What keeps you awake at night?
Low turf density
How has your job changed since you took over as Head Groundsman?
Worry and preoccupation.
What piece of equipment, yet to be invented, would make your life so much easier?
Possibility to easily adapt the microclimate for optimal growth of the turf.
What is your favourite memory for a previous Six Nations Championship?
Italy v France 2012.
What is the best thing about a Six Nations Rugby match in your city?
No free seat in the stadium.
What would you like to say to your fellow Six Nations Head Groundsmen?
RUN!
Wales:
Name: Lee Evans
Role: Head Groundsman
Composition of Pitch: Desso GrassMaster
When was it laid? September 2017
What work will you be doing between Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations?
We had a boxing event on the pitch prior to the Autumn Series. This decimated the surface, so we have had to carry out a thorough renovation immediately after the Autumn Series.
What development or innovation has had the biggest impact on your work in the last five years?
Lighting Rigs/Technology – Grass cannot survive in our stadium without supplementary lighting.
What keeps you awake at night?
Some of the events our Venue Sales Manager, tries to shoehorn into our schedule!
How has your job changed since you took over as Head Groundsman?
I have been Head Groundsman at the stadium for 14 years – the job is unrecognisable to what it was then. A portable palletised pitch with grass that used to start dying back after six weeks in the stadium – to a fantastic Desso Grassmaster stabilised surface with supplementary lighting.
What piece of equipment, yet to be invented, would make your life so much easier?
A full pitch lighting system that somehow is suspended above the pitch, no wheels and no obstacles, a pipe dream alas!
What is your favourite memory for a previous Six Nations Championship?
I have been fortunate to witness three grand slam triumphs in our stadium. They were all very special.
What is the best thing about a Six Nations Rugby match in your city?
The atmosphere in the city is something special. As a teenager I used to go to Cardiff to watch the rugby (in a pub, couldn’t get tickets). 250,00 people descend on Cardiff on a six nations rugby match.
What would you like to say to your fellow Six Nations Head Groundsmen?
Keep up the good work!
France:
Name: Anthony Stones
Role: Grounds Manager Stadefrance ITURF management
Composition of Pitch: Desso GrassMaster
When was it laid? December 2015 and Desso was installed January 2016
What work will you be doing between Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations?
We will have nine lighting rigs on the pitch as the stadium has no sun at this time of year. Depending on the weather we may have the undersoil heating on. Regular mowing three times per week. Two liquid fertiliser applications will be made and one granulated fertiliser application will done between the two matches that we have this year.
What development or innovation has had the biggest impact on your work in the last five years?
I have a couple of things the seegrow lighting rigs have been a massive help and the air2g2. I am also now looking at fans to help with air flow.
What keeps you awake at night?
Weather. You never stop looking at the weather.
How has your job changed since you took over as Head Groundsman?
Learning a new language since I moved out to France. The main thing to remember is that it’s a team effort and not just the headman that makes a great pitch.
What piece of equipment, yet to be invented, would make your life so much easier?
Not sure on this one. I have lots of ideas.
What is your favourite memory for a previous Six Nations Championship? England winning the tournament in my first year at Stadefrance.
What is the best thing about a Six Nations Rugby match in your city?
Atmosphere – the rugby crowds are great.
What would you like to say to your fellow Six Nations Head Groundsmen?
Good luck guys and may the weather be kind to us all.
Ireland:
Name: Majella Smyth
Role: Head Groundsman
Composition of Pitch:
A Desso GrassMaster Hybrid
When was it laid? It was constructed 2013
What work will you be doing between Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations?
Mininimal renovation has been done to the pitch.
What development or innovation has had the biggest impact on your work in the last five years?
Desso Grass Master Hybrid/SGL Grow Lights.
What keeps you awake at night?
Weather conditions.
How has your job changed since you took over as Head Groundsman?
Technology.
What piece of equipment, yet to be invented, would make your life so much easier?
Lighting systems that would leave no impact on the playing surface.
What is your favourite memory for a previous Six Nations Championship?
Ronan O Gara drop goal 2009.
What is the best thing about a Six Nations Rugby match in your city?
The buzz the excitement and the impacted of visiting supporters.
What would you like to say to your fellow Six Nations Head Groundsmen?
It’s a calling, not a job, plus your pitch is now for international scrutiny when it goes live.
