Tag Archive for: Rugby

A decade of MM seed for Rugby School

A decade of MM seed for Rugby School: James Mead, Grounds Manager at the world-famous Rugby School in Warwickshire, has revealed why he has used MM50 grass seed for the last ten years.

Rugby School, founded in 1567, is one of the oldest public schools in England, and is renowned worldwide for being the place where the game of rugby was born and developed. In fact, visitors travel from far and wide to visit the school’s small museum and to see where the legendary student William Webb Ellis, took a football in his arms and ran with it.

A decade of MM seed for Rugby School

A decade of MM seed for Rugby School

It is fitting that a school of such status also boasts a fabulous sporting reputation and James Mead and his experienced team work hard to keep the facilities in pristine condition.

James believes that a grass seed is one of the most integral components in producing a high-quality sports pitch and it is for this reason that he chooses to use MM50.

“I initially heard of MM50 through seminars and various events, and I’ve now been using it for just over ten years,” he said. “The quality of the grass and the cleanliness of the mix is very important – we don’t want any rogue grasses or agricultural left in the mix. MM50 is a very clean mixture.”

MM is one of the most respected brands in the UK amenity industry, with over 40 years of experience and knowledge. The extensive product portfolio is second to none with performance proven mixtures that are used at many leading venues in the UK and Europe.

MM50, in particular, is one of the UK’s biggest selling grass mixtures. The hard-wearing ryegrass mix is very fine leaved, has high shoot density, is tolerant to close mowing down to 4-5mm and produces a great colour all year round. It also has quick recovery from damage and play.

“We use MM50 on our cricket squares, wickets, cricket outfields and we also use MM60 on the first team rugby pitch,” said James. “We overseed as much as we can depending on weather, and it gives us great coverage, great density, and a good fineness of leaf. Very rarely do we get disease and it gives us first-class colour. Playability wise it is excellent and it is ideal for the run of a ball. MM50 just ticks all the boxes that we are looking for.”

Both MM50 and MM60 (an ideal mixture for winter sports pitches) are treated with Headstart® GOLD – a revolutionary grass seed treatment that ensures rapid germination. It benefits from minerals such as Phosphorus, Sulphur, Copper and Molybdenum which all help to stimulate root formation, development and growth ensuring that the seedling grass plant develops a strong root system during the critical start-up phase.

“The speed of the germination certainly takes the pressure off the initial seeding,” said James. “We tend not to put fertiliser down with the MM50 straight away, instead we let the seed come through first. The initial protection to the plant from the mix is ideal.

“The quality of MM50 has never diminished and if anything, it keeps improving. It is a very trustworthy product. Seeding takes a lot of time and effort, and you want the best results for your hard work.”

James also praised the support he receives from both MM and Agrovista Amenity (distributor of MM).

“I have a very good relationship with Matt Gresty from MM seed and also with Mark Allen from Agrovista Amenity – who is able to provide various products of great benefit to us.”

For further information, please contact MM Sports Seed on 01386 791102 or visit the company’s website www.mm-seeds.co.uk. You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed

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Attraxor astounds at the birthplace of Rugby

Attraxor astounds at the birthplace of Rugby: The sports pitches at Rugby School in Warwickshire are benefitting from a stronger sward after Attraxor plant growth regulator was recommended and supplied by Agrovista Amenity.

In 1823, student William Webb Ellis, took a football in his arms and ran with it, originating the game of rugby. Today, innumerable tourists visit the ‘home of the game’ and rugby teams from all over the world can be seen training at Rugby School. It certainly makes Grounds Manager, James Mead a busy man.

Attraxor astounds at the birthplace of Rugby

Attraxor astounds at the birthplace of Rugby

“There can’t be any sort of downtime for the team, and I can be taken aside at any time,” he said. “There could be a TV crew, very important persons or tourists that have made a rugby pilgrimage and want to stand on the turf where the game began. We can never afford to have an off-day here.”

James admits that he is fortunate to have a close-knit team around him; one that has been together for an astonishing amount of time.

“We have a smashing team that has always been together – in fact no one has left in 18 years,” he said. “It helps enormously because we are a very focussed group. Everyone gets a say – decisions and discussions are a collective. This way the whole team gets on-board with ideas, and everyone understands why we are doing something.”

Three years ago, the team decided to incorporate Attraxor plant growth regulator into their maintenance programme. It was a decision which has proved to be considerably successful.

“We had just Koro’d off all of the cricket outfield and were starting fresh,” explained James. “Following this we needed a product that would stick and would help to thicken the sward. Mark Allen from Agrovista Amenity recommended Attraxor and we are pleased he did – it made a huge difference to the strength and playability of the grass.”

Attraxor, a BASF product, is a plant growth regulator containing the active substance, prohexadione and can be used to regulate growth of all managed amenity turf. This active substance inhibits the Giberrelic acid pathway, which results in a reduction of turf height and turf biomass. Root growth is promoted whilst turf colour and quality are maintained.

Based on its initial success, James and the team decided to further utilise Attraxor and it is now an integral product throughout the growing season.

“Attraxor was perfect for the cricket outfield and so we then used it on our two gold standard rugby pitches – which are the ones that all the visitors come to see. Again, it made a big difference.

“We do a lot of liquid spraying and Attraxor goes nicely into our tank mixes,” he continued. “What we mix it with largely depends on the time of the year, but we will start applying Attraxor in March, as soon as the plant is up taking, and we continue to put it down every month throughout the growing season.

“In terms of cutting, we no longer have clippings to contend with and if we have had bad weather and can’t cut, then it is no longer an issue.

“I have been very impressed with Attraxor. Not only has the sward improved, but growth rates across a range of grass species have been regulated equally. I’m especially pleased to see that the strength and vigour of less desirable Poa annua plants has diminished.”

As well as reporting excellent results, James is also of the opinion that his formidable team has gained an extra member.

“Mark Allen is a very hands-on, amenable person to work with – he is a friend as well as a professional colleague. We bounce ideas off one another and it is a good collaboration. He gets on well with all the other members of staff and if anyone has any questions, he is always available to answer them.”

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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Rugby pitch damaged ahead of charity match

Rugby pitch damaged ahead of charity match: On the eve of a charity match on the Sportsground, mindless motorists took the opportunity to race around the town’s rugby pitch in the early hours of Friday April 15.

Read the full article from Monmouthshire Beacon here

Rugby pitch damaged ahead of charity match

Rugby pitch damaged ahead of charity match

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ISEKI hits the mark for Exeter Rugby Club

ISEKI hits the mark for Exeter Rugby Club: Max Sandford has been working at Exeter Rugby Club for over 11 years with full responsibility as the Head Groundsman for the last four years. 

Working as part of a team of three with one first year apprentice they carefully maintain the premiership rugby pitch, alongside the two Desso rugby training pitches, the grounds and car parks. With over 100 players training three to four times a week it can be quite the challenge with the small team to keep everything in top condition.

ISEKI hits the mark for Exeter Rugby Club

ISEKI hits the mark for Exeter Rugby Club

Following the recent multi-million pound investment and a new East Stand built, the stadium now has capacity for over 15,000 fans and with the new hotel development it offers the opportunity to hold numerous events throughout the year.

When the pitches were built a couple of years ago the consultant helped specify the equipment required, this included a 35hp tractor, Wiedenmann Spiker, sprayer and zero turn mower.  Since moving up from a championship to a premiership side there comes an increase in expectations, so 18 months on the club needed to upsize their equipment to cope with the increase in demand.

Commenting on the equipment Max explained; “In order to cope with the larger aerators required we needed a larger tractor so we went out to the market to obtain three demonstrations and quotes.  This is where we came across the ISEKI TG6507IQ.  Scott Struthers, from our local dealer MST Group in Tiverton, brought this machine to us so we could test it out on our site.  Its high lift capacity of 1,580kg, tight turning circle, auto pick up hitch and of course the highly specified cab made our decision easy.”

“Another brilliant feature of the TG6507 IQ is the headland management system that can be set to automatically disengage the PTO on lifting and re-engage when lowering, making turning at the end of runs so simple.  This makes such a difference when aerating large areas and numerous runs. All these features and then, most importantly, the comfortable air con cab means the staff have no problems working with this machine for long periods of time!”

The TG6507 IQ was supplied by Scott Struthers at MST Group, based in Tiverton, Devon.   Max added; “We have been working with MST for a number of years, the back-up and servicing from them is faultless, they have a good, experienced workshop team ensuring our machines are kept in top condition and very competitive pricing.  With this excellent service it meant the purchase of our ISEKI TG6507 IQ was an obvious choice.”

“The TG6507 IQ is a top quality, well-built, sturdy tractor with many high specifications that make our lives so much easier when maintaining the pitches and other areas around the club.  I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend ISEKI.”

Watch the video here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irP8kI8HlM4

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Lancaster rugby pitch destroyed

Lancaster rugby pitch destroyed: Vale of Lune RUFC, to the north of Lancaster, has had its community rugby pitch trashed by vandals using it as a dirt track for their car.

Read the full article from Lancs Live here

Lancaster rugby pitch destroyed

Lancaster rugby pitch destroyed

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Stronger sward for Gloucester Rugby

Stronger sward for Gloucester Rugby: Gloucester Rugby Head Groundsman, Stuart Lambert, believes that the use of Attraxor® plant growth regulator (PGR), has helped him to achieve a stronger sward while simultaneously reducing the amount of Poa annua.

Stuart started at Gloucester Rugby in August 2018 and admits to learning and adapting to the way the pitch plays every single day. This means that he must be flexible in his maintenance strategy and be open to new products which could make a difference to the pitch at the Kingsholm Stadium.

Stronger sward for Gloucester Rugby

Stronger sward for Gloucester Rugby

He came across such a product at BTME 2020 in the form of Attraxor® plant growth regulator (PGR). In further researching the product, he found that it came highly recommended by Mark Allen from Agrovista Amenity and Adam King, Head Groundsman at Oxford United Football Club.

“Attraxor® appealed to me because PGR’s are a significant part of my overall maintenance strategy to improve the turf and control Poa annua,” said Stuart. “2020 was a particularly challenging year for Poa so I was keen to see what the product could offer. Speaking to Mark and Adam gave me the confidence to try it and the results have been far better than expected.”

Stuart claims that a lack of sunlight to the pitch led to an increase in Poa: “In the winter months almost the whole pitch is in shade because the stand is so high,” he said. “This has been a big factor for the care programme I have chosen to adopt. Maintaining grass coverage is a constant concern in the lower light months and the thinning grass often gives way to Poa annua in the spring which takes hold. It’s a tricky combination to contend with.

The lack of light, winter thinning and then the Poa means the turf is high maintenance. Couple this with the winter months being in heavy use and it means we are regularly out with pitch lights to encourage growth in match torn areas.”

After carrying out a mini renovation in June last year, Stuart applied 1.1 kg/ha of Attraxor® with 20kg of 46-0-0 nitrogen fertiliser. Attraxor® contains prohexadione-calcium, a new active ingredient that regulates growth and also limits the spread of Poa annua by reducing seed-head production.

“It visibly weakened the Poa,” said Stuart. “It looked stressed but the rye around it looked good. It turned the seed heads brown.”

Following the first application Stuart is now confident that Attraxor® will form an important part of his overall maintenance plan. “It is good to have a product that strengthens the sward and improves density whilst weakening the Poa. I definitely intend on applying it again,” he concluded.

For more information about Agrovista Amenity, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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Askam rugby club’s NHS gesture

Askam rugby club’s NHS gesture: Askam Rugby League Club have gone above and beyond to show their appreciation for the NHS. 

Groundsmen took advantage of the suspended season to say thank you to local healthcare workers.

Askam rugby club’s NHS gesture

Askam rugby club’s NHS gesture

Lines have been painted on the club’s pitch with ‘NHS’ printed inside a large heart.

The club posted on Twitter: “Showing our support for the brilliant work done by the @NHSuk
#StayAtHome #StaySafe”

Click here to read the original article

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Rugby club’s open invite to vandals

Rugby club’s open invite to vandals: A rugby club has condemned the actions of vandals who drove on their pitch and left tyre marks strewn across the muddy playing surface.

But Phil Prangnell, facilities manager at Dereham Rugby Club, has urged those responsible to curb their ‘boredom’ by joining the team and trying their hand at the sport.

Rugby club's open invite to vandals

Mr Prangell first discovered the damage when he arrived at the club on Tuesday morning and immediately spotted tyre marks across the pitch.

It means the club – based off Moorgate Road in Toftwood – faces a race against the time to get the pitch back up to match standard ahead of their next home fixture.

“When you pull up at the club you cannot miss it,” he said.

“In the summer timer we tend to get kids on scooters and a few in cars on the pitch, but it doesn’t do a great deal of damage. Obviously at this time of year it’s a different story.

“We’ve now got to try and repair the pitch for the next match and just hope it grows again where the tyre marks are.

“Along with people who don’t bother clearing up their dog mess, this is a real frustration.

“Why would you want to mess things up for other people? I’m sure there are plenty of other places around here where they can go off-roading.”

Despite the inconvenience of having to rectify the damage, Mr Prangnell believes there could ultimately be a positive outcome.

He has invited the vandals to join the club and better use their time by playing rugby – instead of going out of their way to destroy the club’s property.

“If they are that bored they should come along to the rugby club and get involved,” added Mr Prangnell, who has been supporting the club for several years. “You never know – they might enjoy themselves.

“We’re a friendly club and players of all abilities are welcome. If you’ve never played before, we’ll you up to standard.”

Dereham Rugby Club trains from 7pm to 9pm on Wednesday evenings. Matches are played on Saturdays.

Click here to read the original article

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Rugby Club Devastated By Pitch Fire

Rugby Club Devastated By Pitch Fire: A Swansea rugby club’s bosses are “devastated” after one of their pitches was set alight in a suspected arson.

The second pitch belonging to Vardre RFC, based in Clydach, was badly burnt during the fire on Sunday.

Rugby Club Devastated By Pitch Fire

South Wales Police are investigating the fire after Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue service were called at about 13:30 BST.

The club spends up to £5,000 a year over the summer to fertilise and reseed the pitches.

“We are worried that it will affect our season and prevent players from all ages enjoying the sports they love,” the committee said.

By the time fire crews arrived, the committee said the pitch was “completely burnt.”

“We are extremely proud of the quality of our pitches,” a spokesman said.

“These facilities are used by the mini, junior, youth and senior section of not only Vardre RFC, but Clydach FC as well.

“The second team pitch is also our only floodlit pitch so is vitally important in the season when the evenings are darker, and we require the floodlighting to train.

“It’s completely heartbreaking and frustrating when so many good people volunteer their time and effort to improve facilities and provisions for the local community and a mindless, selfish few continually vandalise the Vardre RFC playing facilities.

“Currently, we are unsure how long and how much it will cost to get the pitch back to its original state.”

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Rugby Groundsmen Connected

Rugby Groundsmen Connected: As a past player, coach and club groundsman, I am only too aware of the importance of having a decent surface to play on, Having said that, there are still many rugby clubs that for one reason or other fail to invest the appropriate time, resources and money in keeping their pitches in a fit for purpose state.

Far too often, this lack of investment ends up with the pitches over time becoming unplayable during wet weather conditions and needing a fair amount of work to bring them back to an acceptable condition.

Rugby Groundsmen Connected

Most clubs rely heavily on the goodwill of ex-players and members to help with the maintenance of their pitches. However, they can only achieve this if they have the right equipment and resources made available coupled with the relevant knowledge to undertake the maintenance of these pitches.

A recent meeting with Ted Mitchell, RFU Club Facilities Technical Manager and Keith Kent, Head Groundsman at Twickenham Stadium enlightened me on the work the RFU have being doing to support rugby clubs who need advice and help with managing their facilities and pitches and their popular Rugby Groundsman Connected scheme is certainly making a difference.

Rugby Groundsmen Connected (RGC) is the RFU’s easy access, two-way communication network between the RFU and rugby union groundsmen. It is the main communication channel for the RFU to provide information and advice to groundsmen and also has special offers and exclusive benefits for members. Everything the RFU does related to pitch maintenance will now come under the banner of Rugby Groundsmen Connected. Groundsmen Connected is for anybody that has any involvement in the upkeep of rugby pitches; complete novice to Premiership groundsmen. Anyone can register to join RGC at no cost. Registration is by email to groundsmenconnected@rfu.com. Once signed up they will receive regular communications with advice, information and the opportunity to ask questions.

RGC now has well over 1,000 groundsmen registered and Keith has been very supportive of the scheme and has himself visited many clubs up and down the country to pass on his advice. To help recognise the good work being done by these dedicated volunteers the RFU arranged a groundsman’s ‘Money Can’t Buy’ experience sponsored by the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme.

I, along with five other club volunteer groundsmen; Adrian Robertshaw (Ross On Wye RFC), Julian Roberts (Devizes RFC), Nigel Mortimore (Topsham RFC,) Colin Hudson (Lutterworth RFC) and John Upton (Volunteer Pitch Advisor), were given a tour of the stadium and a chance to meet up with Keith and his two trusted assistants, Ian and Andy, who spent the day explaining the work they do to keep the hallowed turf at Twickenham in tip top condition.

Rugby Groundsmen Connected

After an interesting and informative tour of the stadium that included the chance to sit in the royal box, visit the changing rooms and other executive boxes, we were then given opportunity to go down onto the pitch and try out some of the machinery they use.

Keith was keen to demonstrate the wealth of equipment available to help maintain rugby pitches to a high standard.  On show was a range of cylinder mowers, rotary mowers, aeration equipment, and compact tractors fitted with Quadraplay units, outfield spikers and slitters.

Rugby Groundsmen Connected

All in all a great day and one we all will not forget; very educational and a great way to honour the work of these dedicated club volunteers. I personally enjoyed the day immensely, which was topped with the news that my application to become a Volunteer Pitch Advisor for the RFU, working across the North Midlands area, had been accepted.

Rugby Groundsmen Connected

For me this is a very special opportunity to work with the RFU to deliver one of their key initiatives of their Rugby Groundsmen Connected programme. I am looking forward to visiting many of the clubs I played for and against during my playing days.  These clubs have been the cornerstones of sport in the community for many years and this new role is to ensure they continue to thrive and provide decent playing surfaces for the next generation of rugby players.

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