'Someone do something about it!': LRZ's demand after gruesome injury

Bristol Bears wing Louis Rees-Zammit has become the latest player to call for artificial pitches to be outlawed after suffering burns to his leg in his side’s recent defeat to Saracens in the Gallagher PREM.

The Wales star is not the first player to suffer such injuries on 3G surfaces used by Saracens at the StoneX Stadium, Gloucester at Kingsholm and Newcastle Red Bulls at Kingston Park.

The 25-year-old should be accustomed to the surface, however, having been a Gloucester player when they adopted the new surface in 2021, playing his home matches on it until his move to American football in 2024.

To avoid such problems, World Rugby permitted leggings to be worn by players in 2021, with Rees-Zammit’s former Gloucester team-mate Jonny May frequently wearing them for home games, as does Newcastle wing Christian Wade.

The Welshman took to Instagram after the match to share an image of his grazed leg alongside the caption: “Can we please stop playing on these AstroTurf pitches!! Someone do something about it!!”

Grazes and burns are not the only issues players have raised with the surface, however.

Bristol boss Pat Lam revealed after the 30-7 loss in London that he held players back from the match to avoid injuries. Pedro Rubiolo, AJ MacGinty and Steven Luatua were rested for the trip due to past injuries.

“They came off big injuries last year and so it wasn’t worth putting them on that pitch,” Lam said.

“If we were playing the game at home or if it was a semi-final, they would have played.”

Former England wing Jack Nowell was another notable critic of artificial surfaces and seldom played for Exeter Chiefs at grounds that used them. Not only were the abrasions an issue for Nowell, but the surface aggravated his longstanding knee problems.

Fortunately for Rees-Zammit, he has time to recover, with Bristol not due to play on a 3G pitch until New Year’s Day against Gloucester.