Rebels players celebrate a try during the round 14 Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Force at AAMI Park on May 29, 2016 in Melbourne. Photo / Getty
Rebels players celebrate a try during the round 14 Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Force at AAMI Park on May 29, 2016 in Melbourne. Photo / Getty
The Melbourne Rebels and Australian Rugby Union (ARU) are threatening to move the next Super Rugby fixture at AAMI Park unless the surface is fixed.
They will also insist the Melbourne Olympic Park Trust, who control the ground, pay for an alternative venue in Melbourne for the July 2 clashagainst the Stormers if the condition of AAMI Park is not improved by Saturday.
"The immediate issue is the safety and welfare around playing on that surface in ten days time, based on what was evident on Saturday night," ARU general manager Rob Clarke told News Corp Australia.
"We just simply cannot compromise the safety of our players who could suffer a career-ending injury based on what was evidenced on Saturday night."
The turf was repeatedly torn up at the ground during scrums in Australia's 23-7 loss to England on Saturday night, with dangerous sandy holes also regularly exposed.