Shots fired at Rifles pitch

'Break a leg' may not be the most appropriate encouragement for players on College Rifles' artificial rugby pitch in Auckland.

The facility has earned much praise in a wet rugby season when games have often been cancelled because of boggy grounds. Rifles players and opponents know they are guaranteed game time at their Remuera facility.

However, with three broken legs to senior players this year, the question arises whether the promise of play is worth the risk.

Ponsonby Rugby Club physio Tanya Browne saw two of those breaks at sevens tournaments over summer.

"Compound fracture dislocations to the extent these were is very uncommon," she said.

The French product, called Field Turf Tarkett, is tested for safety and consistency every two years by the IRB and has passed every inspection. The most recent test was conducted in November last year and the minimum compliance level was exceeded by 10 per cent.

Rifles general manager Derek Rope said the pitch was tested for everything rugby-related, including leg injuries and head impact.

"Leg injuries here are consistent with the modern game," said Rope, adding that the fields were used three times as much as prior to the turf being laid, so statistics appear worse due to that heavy usage.

College Rifles premier rugby physio Bryce Ebben said most of the injuries were contact-related and could not be attributed to the artificial turf: "I would think you would get more injuries from sticking in the uneven mud [on a normal field]."

However, Browne said Ponsonby have never had any serious breaks in the 15 years she's been at the grass field of Western Springs stadium.

Another area of concern is the hygiene of a field that has no natural antiseptic. Rope said the turf has to be disinfected every six months and constantly governed to avoid hygiene problems. Players cannot wear muddy boots, chew gum or take food or drink on to the turf or it could clog the whole surface.

"There's no soil. There's nothing to break any of these things down," said Rope.

Browne said it wasn't the food and drink causing the hygiene problem, it's the spit, sweat and blood: "I've seen someone spew on that field - where does that go?"

Rope said there was nothing better than a good grass field - and what they have at College Rifles is the second best option.

"We can use it all year round, across many different codes, seven days a week."

With huge numbers of Auckland club rugby games cancelled or transferred on a weekly basis, many clubs would love to trade with the luxury of having rugby week in, week out. But the question remains whether the price includes more injuries.