Artificial Turf

If you don't read any further, these are the things that you should know:

• Only Regulation 22 compliant artificial turf fields can be use for rugby training or matches
• Any field from any supplier that meets the criteria can be considered compliant
• Fields must be tested on installation and then every two years by an Accredited Test Institute to maintain compliance

What is artificial turf?

• The artificial turf system comprises three main layers:
• The Artificial Turf
• Performance infill:
• Stabilising infill:
• Carpet backing: The carpet backing is the layer that the carpet fibres are stitched into.
• A shock absorbing layer (optional): This is the Shock Pad that sits underneath the backing of the turf. This is an optional layer, however with current technologies it is unlikely that you will achieve the correct test results without one.
• Sub-base: This is the foundation which the turf is built upon.

Why is artificial turf used in rugby and why do World Rugby regulate it?

Artificial turf, and how it differs to natural turf, has a number of factors that make it appealing for rugby:

• Playing time:
  • At least 30 hours playing time per week
  • Perfect for intense usage
  • Great fit for multi-sport facilities
• Financial:
  • Lower running costs
  • Additional revenue generator due to longer playing hours
• Environmental:
  • Less water required
  • Recyclable
• Climactic:
  • Better suited to extreme weather conditions
  • Consistent surface throughout the playing season

World Rugby regulate the use of artificial turf for both training and matches. The requirements are set out in Regulation 22 and the World Rugby Turf Performance Specification.

World Rugby recognised that there is a huge variation in the quality and performance of artificial turf surfaces and wanted to work to bring consistency and quality to surfaces being used for rugby. This led to the development of Regulation 22 in 2003 to regulate the use of artificial turf surfaces. since then it has continued to be developed and improved to reflect the changes to products, manufacturing processes, environmental factors and the needs of the game.

Player Welfare is World Rugby's number one priority so Regulation 22 puts player interaction performance and the ability of a surface to maintain that performance at the core of the development of the regulation. To ensure that these performance requirements are met, World Rugby require all fields to be retested at least every two years.

World Rugby do not regulate the use of natural turf in the same way as their performance is largely climate and condition dependent so consistency is not easily achieved.

List of compliant Fields 

General advice for facility owners

• Use a Preferred Turf Producer: World Rugby Preferred Turf Producers (PTPs) are artificial turf manufacturers, whom we deem to practice the highest possible standards of manufacturing surfaces for rugby.
• Shop around for an Accredited Test Institute: We understand that installing an artificial surface can be a costly affair. One way which you may be able to cut down costs is to shop around for your Accredited Test Institute, to carry out the testing of your surface. The closest ATI is not always the cheapest! For a list of ATI’s, <click here>
• Factor the cost of testing into your budget: In order to manage expectations appropriately, factoring the cost of testing into your procurement budget is very important. The average life of an artificial field is approximately 10 years, and in order for it to be possible to continue to play rugby on the surface it must be retested every 2 years (as per the requirements in <Regulation 22>). Consider discussing the possibility of building testing costs into your procurement agreement with your manufacturer, and whether or not it is a service that they offer.
• If there are multiple artificial fields in the same area, get them tested at the same time: One of the biggest costs for ATIs to test a field is for the travel of their technician and their equipment to perform the test.  For this reason, it is much cheaper to get a number of fields in the same area tested at once. If you have installed a field and need to get it tested, consider contacting other local owners or artificial rugby pitches to arrange a group test. 
• Have the sub-base tested before installation: Underneath the artificial turf system sits the sub-base, which is the foundation. There can sometimes be issues with the sub-base that will cause the surface to fail its World Rugby compliance testing. These issues can be very costly to rectify after the surface has been installed. Because of this, we highly recommend having the sub-base tested before the installation of a surface in order to reduce the risk of any issues arising. 

Preferred Turf Producers (PTPs)

In order to ensure that the highest possible player welfare and performance standards are achieved, World Rugby have identified Preferred Turf Producers (PTPs), whom we deem to practice the highest possible standards of manufacturing in rugby turf.

The Preferred Turf Producer scheme ensures that installed pitches are both safe to play on and, through research and development, can evolve with the needs of Rugby. PTPs are contracted to World Rugby, to meet a certain set of standards and requirements. This means that by using our PTPs, you can be confident that you will be receiving a high standard service of a high standard.

For more information on our PTPs, click here.

<PTP Page Access Here>

Approval Process

The World Rugby approval process exists to provide peace of mind to facilities that the product they are investing in is capable of meeting the requirements of Regulation 22. It is the manufacturer's responsibility to ensure that a product has been successfully laboratory tested. A World Rugby issued laboratory report proves that this testing has been undertaken for that product.

Field testing must be completed when a field is installed, before any rugby activity takes place on it, and at least every two years to ensure it continues to meet the requirements. A World Rugby issued field test report proves that this testing has been completed. A comprehensive maintenance regime and monitoring of its usage are critical in ensuring that the surface lasts and continues to meet the requirements in place.

<ATI Page Access Here>                           <Performance Specification>

It is worth noting that a Regulation 22 compliant field will also, likely, meet the requirements for FIFA certification.

Maintenance

• Maintenance is an essential part of owning an artificial turf surface. Maintenance has been shown to significantly increase the life of a carpet as it:
  • Maintains the safety and welfare of those playing on the surface
  • Ensures the longevity of the playing surface
  • Maintains the playing performance of the surface
  • Maintains the aesthetics of the field itself.
• Maintenance of an artificial surface is the responsibility of the owner.
• The amount of maintenance required will depend on the usage levels of the field
• Manufacturers will provide specialist maintenance equipment as part of a tender, where requested, however, there are numerous inexpensive maintenance equipment options on the market.
• Maintenance advice will usually be given as part of the installation of a surface. Below is a rough guide to the amount of maintenance that should be performed on a field. This is not intended to be suited to all fields and the manufacturer is best placed to advise on the best approach to their product. You will note that the times given are based on usage hours as the maintenance requirement will change depending on the amount of use a field gets:
  • Every 40 playing hours (weekly)
    • remove debris
    • brushing, checking seams
    • checking equipment (goals, corner flags)
  • Every 160 playing hours (monthly)
    • ball rebound test checks for compaction
    • ball roll test checks for fibre position (should be upright)
    • check infill depth
  • Every 2,000 playing hours (annually)
    • service the maintenance equipment
    • decompaction
    • check drains
    • check watering system
  • Depending on the condition of the surface these techniques may be required more frequently than suggested above
• Regular watering is also an important aspect of proper maintenance, where practicable. Watering is central to facilitating the break-up of surface tension on a new field, reducing skin abrasions for players and slowing down the heat development that can build up on the artificial surface.

Additional advice on preparing an artificial turf field for a World Rugby tournament or event can be found <578378>. 

Testing

The testing of a system will occur both within a laboratory environment and upon the completed installation and must be carried out by a World Rugby Accredited Test Institute. Testing helps to ensure:

• Player welfare is promoted
• The investment made in the field is protected. Regulation 22 includes a requirement to simulate the wear on fields to ensure that the performance requirements can continue to be met by the surface for at least 8-10 years
• The surface behaves in the expected manner

The performance requirements are in place to mimic natural turf and to minimise the injury risk caused by the surface

A system will undergo a series of tests to establish its suitability for installation. Only a system that has passed both the laboratory and field testing requirements of the Rugby Turf Performance Specification will be deemed to suitable for use in rugby union.

The types of test undertaken are as follows:

• Laboratory Tests
  • Identification tests – to characterise the surface being tested
  • Durability – the ability of the surface to withstand the effects of play and the environment
    • Carpet and joint strength tests are completed to ensure that the installation is strong enough to withstand the normal actions undertaken during a rugby match such as scrummaging, rucking and mauling.
  • Longevity – the ability of the surface to withstand the effects of weathering. Products are tested before and after treatment to ensure the performance continues to be met. The conditioning includes:
    • UV-A Exposure 
    • Mechanical wear (using the Lisport XL device) .
  • Player/Surface Interaction – the reaction of the surface to a player
    • Shock Absorption:
      • If the shock absorption is too high the surface will feel heavy to the player and will sap their energy, tiring them out more quickly.
      • If the shock absorption is too low the surface will feel too hard and result in increased risk of injury from compaction of the meniscus in the knee joints and the spinal column.
    • Vertical Deformation:
      • A high vertical deformation means that the field will deform too much under the player which may result in overstretching of ligaments.
      • A low vertical deformation means that the field does not have enough compressibility and will feel hard to run on.
    • Rotational Resistance:
      • If the rotational resistance is too high, the natural slippage that is expected is reduced, meaning that the likelihood of excessive grip between the boot and the surface may increase the risk of potential joint injuries (especially ankle and knee).
      • If the rotational resistance is too low the player is more likely to slip and have less confidence in their foot holding. It makes change of direction much more difficult and slippage can result in over-extension injuries.
    • Impact Attenuation (HIC)
      • There is no real risk in having a high HIC, however higher HIC values increase the likelihood of other requirements not achieving their required levels.
      • If the HIC value is too low, the likelihood of serious injury occurring as a result of a player hitting their head on the surface is increased.
  • Ball/Surface Interaction – the reaction of a ball to the surface
    • Vertical Ball Rebound (using an association football ball)
      • If the vertical ball rebound is too high, then the surface will make the ball bounce to an unusually high degree. It is also a good indicator of excess compaction of the infill.
      • If the vertical ball rebound is too low the ball will bounce less than is expected resulting in a deadening of the ball.
    • Angled Ball Rebound (using an association football ball) is tested in the lab only to ensure that the expected performance is met.
      
      
• Field Tests
  • Identification tests – to ensure the system installed matches the product tested in the laboratory
  • Player/Surface Interaction – as above
  • Ball/Surface Interaction – as above except for angled ball rebound
  • Construction tests – evenness

These testing requirements align closely with FIFA's requirements except for the following aspects:

• World Rugby have a minimum pile height requirement (currently 50mm)
• FIFA do not have a HIC requirement
• World Rugby strength requirements are higher to account for scrummaging and other sport specific aspects of play.  

 A full list of tests and the requirements for each is available in the <World Rugby Turf Performance Specification>

One Turf

World Rugby have lead the creation of non-sport specific advice for the development of mutli-sport community-based fields that supports the rationale for Regulation 22 and the work that World Rugby do in artificial turf.

<ONE-Turf Page>