Rees Zammit Calls For End To Artificial Rugby Pitches

Wales and Bristol wing Louis Rees Zammit has called for artificial playing surfaces to be removed from top-flight rugby after suffering leg burns during Bristol's 30-7 defeat by Saracens at StoneX Stadium, where concerns over player welfare have intensified.

Rees Zammit shared an image of the injuries to his right leg after playing on the artificial surface. Saracens, Gloucester and Newcastle are the three Premiership clubs using artificial pitches, according to reports from BBC Sport and ESPN.

Rees Zammit's post followed renewed criticism of synthetic fields in professional rugby, with players and coaches questioning their impact after matches played on those surfaces.

"Can we please stop playing on these Astroturf pitches!! Someone do something about it!!" said Louis Rees Zammit, Wales and Bristol wing.

Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam also revealed that three important players were left out of the matchday squad for the trip to north London because of concerns about the StoneX Stadium surface.

Pedro Rubiolo, AJ MacGinty and Steven Luatua were rested after coming back from significant injuries. Lam said the decision was made to avoid exposing them to the pitch conditions.

"They came off big injuries last season so it wasn't worth putting them on that pitch." said Pat Lam, Bristol director of rugby.

Lam explained the selection decision was based on the circumstances of the fixture and the players' previous injury history.

"If we were playing the game at home or if it was a semi-final, they would have played." said Pat Lam, Bristol director of rugby.

Saracens chief executive Ed Coetzee responded to the criticism by saying the club continues to monitor its playing surface and that it meets required standards.

"Following recent comments about the pitch at StoneX Stadium, here are the facts," said Ed Coetzee, Saracens chief executive.

Coetzee said the surface has a valid World Rugby Regulation 22 certificate until 1 April 2028. He also said the club submitted its SF4 documentation to Premiership Rugby before the deadline and follows its maintenance programme.

"The surface holds a valid World Rugby Regulation 22 certificate until 1 April 2028. Our SF4 documentation was with Prem Rugby ahead of the deadline. The maintenance programme is followed to the letter. We take pitch condition and player welfare seriously, and we keep the surface under constant review." said Ed Coetzee, Saracens chief executive.

The Saracens executive said the club believes its pitch remains compliant while acknowledging the wider discussion around artificial surfaces in professional rugby.

"Certified, submitted and maintained. Anyone who would like to see the paperwork only has to ask." said Ed Coetzee, Saracens chief executive.

Previous criticism of artificial pitches has included comments from England prop Joe Marler in 2021. A British Journal of Sports Medicine study published in December 2024 reviewed 20 seasons of English Premiership injury data and found knee injury incidence was 44 percent higher during matches on artificial pitches, although injury severity showed no significant difference.

"Who an opposition club picks is entirely its own business and we'd prefer our pitch to be remembered for the rugby played on it, rather than the excuses made afterwards." said Ed Coetzee, Saracens chief executive.