Hot Weather and Dry Pitches

[Maximus Decimus]

This was something I thought about recently and with the hot weather coming, I thought what better time to post.

My lad has recently started playing rugby and I've had no involvement with junior RL in nearly 15 years. One of the problems with the move to summer is that a dry pitch can be rock solid. It is my recollection that 15 years ago I don't even remember a conversation about the pitch being too hard to play.

When we had a decent spell a few weeks back, I was surprised to see a ref nearly call a game off for a hard pitch. They brought out a pitchfork, and the idea seemed to be that if it stands up in the ground they would play. It just about passed the test.

Is this a new development or has my memory once again played tricks?

Then it got me thinking about Australia and especially some of those places in the outback. How exactly do they manage it? I notice when I watch the pros that the grass often seems to be made of different stuff; you really notice it when it cuts up like during magic round.

Anyone know anything?

 

[N2022]

Maybe this could become a serious problem with climate. In terms of how far it goes back, I used to coach RU in schools (Autumn Term only) and remember a season about 25 yrs ago where the grounds were bone dry for well over a month and we didn't play a game or do full contact training before mid-Oct half-term. And when we had some light rain in the last week before that break, in the first few days back to any kind of controlled, unopposed 'go to ground' work, I think there a couple of wrist fractures.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

I certainly remember when I was playing in secondary school in the 2000s just how horrible a dry pitch can be to play on. Think about how chirned up school playing fields get and then imagine all those lumps and bumps rock solid. I don't remember any broken bones but there was certainly some cuts and broozes and a lot of claret spilled. Still, we wanted to play so they let us. Probably wouldn't let us these days.

[Griff]

53 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I certainly remember when I was playing in secondary school in the 2000s just how horrible a dry pitch can be to play on. Think about how chirned up school playing fields get and then imagine all those lumps and bumps rock solid. I don't remember any broken bones but there was certainly some cuts and broozes and a lot of claret spilled. Still, we wanted to play so they let us. Probably wouldn't let us these days.

I remember kids playing on tarmac. I gave that one a miss.

[Ivarr the Boneless]

A rugby union club near me didn't play or do any contact training at Junior age groups - can't remember up to what age - until well into the season just gone, due to the pitches being deemed too hard.

i fear it will become an increasing issue on grass.

Throw in the lack of maintenance for financial reasons at many public owned pitches, and we could end up moving from matches off due to a quagmire to matches off due to a rock hard pitch with a few playable weeks in between.

[Archie Gordon]

It's a big problem and, without some prolonged rain, it will soon be unsafe to play on grass pitches in this part of the country. I've never been a fan of astro pitches but they do guarantee playable grounds in Summer.

[gingerjon]

53 minutes ago, Ivarr the Boneless said:

A rugby union club near me didn't play or do any contact training at Junior age groups - can't remember up to what age - until well into the season just gone, due to the pitches being deemed too hard.

It's been an issue at Hastings in recent years. I can't remember which season it was (not least year, maybe the one before) but the senior team delayed the start of their season by two weeks because of it.

They are quite lucky in the sense that games then don't get called off in the winter locally for frost too often and they are at that level where only the threat of actual drowning will see games pulled for being waterlogged when the rain does come in November-February.

[Maximus Decimus]

This weekend will likely be a good test of whether there are rules around it.

My memory 15 years ago and with junior football was the frustration of games being cancelled because of wet weather. As others have said, we could end up with games constantly being off for one reason or another.

Any Aussie friends want to mention how they manage it over there?

[The Blues Ox]

The RFL sent out a directive to clubs last season regards this problem. Its a real struggle in the community game where pitches have taken a lot of hammer and a reluctance to call a game off because this pitch is too hard.

[PaulF]

Because of the hard ground problem, my club is in the process of installing irrigation. Its a bit suck it and see as to whether its workable and sustainable as we dont know how much it will cost for the extra water.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

4 hours ago, Archie Gordon said:

It's a big problem and, without some prolonged rain, it will soon be unsafe to play on grass pitches in this part of the country. I've never been a fan of astro pitches but they do guarantee playable grounds in Summer.

Problem with astroturf is it gets really hot in full sun, and the roughness of it can cause burns and bad sores.

Edited May 25 by The Hallucinating Goose

[henage]

On 21/05/2026 at 18:23, Maximus Decimus said:

This was something I thought about recently and with the hot weather coming, I thought what better time to post.

My lad has recently started playing rugby and I've had no involvement with junior RL in nearly 15 years. One of the problems with the move to summer is that a dry pitch can be rock solid. It is my recollection that 15 years ago I don't even remember a conversation about the pitch being too hard to play.

When we had a decent spell a few weeks back, I was surprised to see a ref nearly call a game off for a hard pitch. They brought out a pitchfork, and the idea seemed to be that if it stands up in the ground they would play. It just about passed the test.

Is this a new development or has my memory once again played tricks?

Then it got me thinking about Australia and especially some of those places in the outback. How exactly do they manage it? I notice when I watch the pros that the grass often seems to be made of different stuff; you really notice it when it cuts up like during magic round.

Anyone know anything?

 

When game went summer clubs could apply for a grant that could be used to have a contractor come in and verti drain pitches and apply sports sand . Work wonders at the club my lads played at . 

Keeping on top of pitches probably not high on clubs radar and budget .

Verti drain mnachine removed a plug of soil approx 200mm deep x 25mm wide .

Holes filled with the very soft sports sand . 

Transformed two clay based pitches 

[Dunbar]

Temperatures in the UK reached 34.8C today. In Spring.

I wonder how long it will be before some days are too hot to play Rugby League. 

[Maximus Decimus]

On 25/05/2026 at 18:37, Dunbar said:

Temperatures in the UK reached 34.8C today. In Spring.

I wonder how long it will be before some days are too hot to play Rugby League. 

I'm sure there's a law. I remember when I was in Aus there was a temperature where the Aussie Open play would be stopped. I also spent a day working on a farm and they sent us home early cos we went over 37 degrees I think.

[Red Willow]

I have spent may years hearing that Salford would play better once the pitches dried out a bit

 

[newbe]

Have heard from some people that Hemel Stags have put in a new pitch, with a new drainage system to go into water tanks under ground, they have also installed a semi automated sprinkler system, topped up with mains water.To me that is the way forward recycling water.

[fcl]

And here in France, since we're smarter than everyone else, the federation wants to play in the summer... Yesterday it was 39°! According to projections of temperature and climate evolution, in 10 years Perpignan will have the current climate of Valencia in Spain and in 2050 that of Alicante.

[Northern Eel]

Keeping plenty of grass on the pitch is the number one aim in these circumstances. Those clubs who prioritise this rarely have cancellations.

The RFL issue regular guidance around warm weather protocols. Clubs use a fork-test method and record results as to how a decision has been reached. A garden fork is dropped from a horizontal arm position. It is intended to stick in the ground on contact.

However, there is not an immediate fail from the fork not sticking in the ground. A dynamic assessment of all other factors contributes to a collective decision. 

Edited May 29 by Northern Eel

[Griff]

14 hours ago, newbe said:

Have heard from some people that Hemel Stags have put in a new pitch, with a new drainage system to go into water tanks under ground, they have also installed a semi automated sprinkler system, topped up with mains water.To me that is the way forward recycling water.

Just installed one at Sheffield.  Rainwater is channelled off the hill, runs into three tanks at the back of the railway end stand and is available for use on the pitch.   Too early to say how well it works, though the soccer team has been plagued with muddy pitches in the past.

[Griff]

On 25/05/2026 at 16:30, henage said:

.

Holes filled with the very soft sports sand . 

Is that the stuff they use for beach volleyball ?

[N2022]

On 29/05/2026 at 08:35, Northern Eel said:

Keeping plenty of grass on the pitch is the number one aim in these circumstances. Those clubs who prioritise this rarely have cancellations.

The RFL issue regular guidance around warm weather protocols. Clubs use a fork-test method and record results as to how a decision has been reached. A garden fork is dropped from a horizontal arm position. It is intended to stick in the ground on contact.

However, there is not an immediate fail from the fork not sticking in the ground. A dynamic assessment of all other factors contributes to a collective decision. 

Other factors like whether it was dropped handle end down?

[henage]

On 29/05/2026 at 14:09, Griff said:

Is that the stuff they use for beach volleyball ?

Dont think so , its just very soft sand . From the Mansfield area ? Not sure on that ....