Should rugby be played in the summer?
- 25 Jan 07, 10:38 AM
Glasgow - I got into the today on a bright, crisp morning and thought: 鈥淲hat a flaming lovely day. It feels good to be alive.鈥
This was just before I started chittering and grabbed a cd cover to scrape the ice off the front windscreen. Inside the car the temperature gauge registered -3 degrees. Minus three! Is this really rugby-playing weather?
Now, I write this because I coach up here North of Hadrian鈥檚 Wall, and we shall be training tonight on a surface that will, at best, be described as 鈥渃rispy鈥.
If I want long term ankle stability the best thing to do is avoid running. And it will be f-f-f鈥攆 freezing.
We start at seven, and for the last three months, after the , we have been and the players have lurched, as if in a dream while covered in several layers of weather proofing, onto the training pitches.
I have it on good authority that it is the same for professional players.
So, the question today is: "Why are we playing rugby in this weather? Does it not impact on our skill level when we compare ourselves to the Aussies, the Kiwis and the Springboks?"
When I was out covering the a few of us went jogging in the morning, swam later, and one Sunday drove along part of the coast road where, at one stage, we passed a group of young men training for Aussie rules football.
They were in t-shirts, and they looked as though they were enjoying themselves.
Which made me think, straight way, that skill acquisition in the UK鈥檚 weather is tricky by comparison. The ball is wet, the air is cold, the feet are numb, the hands can鈥檛 feel to grip (), the hamstrings are tight, and just keeping warm and dry is much, much more important than learning posititional play, running lines, and how to give and take a pass.
Yes, yes, the Six Nations tournament is at the perfect time of the year with a TV slot and a profile that is the envy of the world.
But in terms of the development of the game shouldn鈥檛 we be coaching, developing, and training our youngsters by playing rugby in the summer?
Wales 27-18 England
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Well I kind off understand the temptation of playing in the summer at the moment. However, ask yourself this: how fun is it to be playing rugby for 80 minutes at + 25 degrees with gazing sun? Let me tell you, it is hot and dehydration is a serious risk! I have done it, so I know.
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At last. Surely this is the final straw that the Rugby Union obsessed media need to recognise that Rugby League is a better version of the oval code!
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If all sport moves to the summer - what will we watch in the winter.
Stop being a complete wuss!
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The idea of playing rugby in the summer is an appealing one. The conditions favour both the players and the spectators.
There would be no shivering on the sidelines with a mug of thermos coffee for the spectators and the players might actually be able to play the game to their highest ability without being hampered by hail, lakes of mud or gale force winds.
However, playing in the summer brings a whole host of new problems.
Firstly, the pitches become alot harder in the summer as the warm conditions dry them out. Obviously this wouldnt be a problem for Guinness Premiership or Magners League teams with professional grounds-keepers but at amateur level, it can be a nightmare of broken bones and straigned ligaments as players either fall onto the hard ground in tackles or scrum, ruck and maul on what is effectively concrete.
Secondly, many rugby players arent built for summer sports - with more muscle bulk that the average draught horse, players like Dallaglio and O'Connell would struggle in the heat.
In short, while playing rugby in the summer is very tempting, the prime rugby conditions are offered in autumn/early spring when the pitches are softened by rain and the temperature is not so high that players sweat off their own body weight.
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your on the money there mate thats exactly why they dont play rugby or aussie rules here in summer cause its too hot and would be detrementel to the players and the sport PS the winter here is like our scottish summer
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I watch League and Union and one of the great advantages of League as a spectator is that I can spend a pleasant afternoon/evening watching the game rather than wondering whether I am going to lose any of my fingers or toes to frostbite.
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I agree, not just because i played my best ruby early and late season and had short hamstrings. It would become far more of a fast moving spectacle for the fans/viewers. Skill levels would also have to be higher in all areas. I remember someone saying after we had only just beaten aspatria in the cup, on a bog in cumbria that the pitch was a great leveller and speed and skill didn't count for anything (very true). Great for a cup upset but not for game? or not? Summer Rugby great bring it on!
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Playing in the summer would be nonsense. The ground is harder in the dry weather and whilst the professional teams have manicured soft lawns to play on the bulk of the rugby playing community would be on concrete hard pitches getting injured. Anyone who has played knows that at the start of the season when the ground is still hard that you spend the first month with open wounds on your knees that do not heal within a week. With global warming the winter will be less frosty so no need to change.
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Playing on rock hard pitches is never fun but at least the frozen mud doesn't weigh your kit down like a mudbath can! Not all RWC games are played in good weather conditions though so at least NH players are used to catching balls that are like a bar of soap...which is a skill in itself.
Personally I play touch rugby in the summer which is good for fitness and skills.
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Rugby is a winter game. As a spectator I actually enjoy watching it being played through all sorts of conditions. This provides a rich variety of entertainment. The summer is for me to watch cricket.
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Shouldn't they be training in the summer to??
Plus I remember a few times playing in the summer, 7's mostly, if you got nailed into the dry, hard, ground it hurt a hell of a lot more than if there was a bit of give there.
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Having played rugby for 15 years, I've played in the boiling hot sun of SA and the freezing snow of England. The best conditions I think are when its mild temperature with slight rain - cools you down! But much prefer to play in the cold when at least you can warm up rather than playing in the blasting sun and high temperatures where you can't escape the heat.
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Let鈥檚 look at this from a practical level, - the weather in the UK in Dec, Jan and Feb is rubbish and often games are cancelled. So why don鈥檛 we spread the season out further with a short break (8 weeks) in the height of summer and depths of winter. That means players are rested and have a chance to recover from injury , injury due to hard ground is lessened, families can still take summer and winter holidays without effecting the clubs results, clubs get year round revenue and spectators can watch the best game in the world all year round. WIN WIN WIN.
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If summer is too hot, and winter is too cold, why not have an extended winter break and play in the spring and autumn months?
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I actually enjoy the discussions between summer and winter rugby. Rugby league has been a great success story since its move to the summer, and part of that success has been due to the fact that it no longer had to compete with rugby union for tv figures. Also with league the scrums are less competitive to say the least (possibly equivalent to non-contested union scrums).
Skill levels in union would improve considerably, however only in the backs, as the forwards work hard enough to keep warm whatever the weather! I believe that union needs to stay as a winter game, as has been proven in the recent wet weather in my club - more players turn out to train in the mud, because they can then do the dive olympics to see who can slide furthest in the mud! Imagine how much skin you'd have left on your knees doing that in the summer!
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I play rugby in Brisbane. The season starts with games being played in 30 degree heat. In the middle of "winter" here, games may be played in temperatures as low as a chilly 20, 22 degrees. As there is a drought the pitches are rock hard like concrete at some clubs as mentioned, but we just get on with it, and I can't say the injury rate is any higher from my observations. The ball stays dry so skills are easier to complete, the pace is fast, and once acclimatised, you hydrate properly before, during and after. Let's be honest, British summers would rarely produce extremes. Even the driest hardest pitches would be playable, with a bit of vaseline on the knee caps and moulded studs. And everyone knows that the driest worst parts of pitches in the summer in the UK are the parts that were churned up when it was a muddy quagmire in the winter, which wouldn't happens. Bring it on I say
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All sports are better played in the summer (the notion of hard pitches and blazing sun doesn't usually apply in this country does it!), the biggest problem is competition. ie competition from sports that already exist in the summer. At youth and amateur levels people play rugby in the winter and for example cricket in the summer. Put them in competition and both are going to suffer, both in terms of playing numbers, and spectators, as you can't do both at the same time.
Anyway, running around in the mud and sharing an ice cold shower with 30 odd other rugby addicts is always preferable to shopping with the missus on a Saturday afternoon. Would you really want to leave 3 or 4 months a year with no Saturday afternoon past-time, to be replaced by endless DIY and shopping? Thought not.
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summer rugby should have been introduced a long time ago. i feel that britain suffers the most from the lack of good weather and it is because of this i feel britain and Ireland have the worst attendance figures for matches. France can afford to play in the winter as in some parts of the country they have good weather all year round. look at rugby league and the attendance figures they get in the summer for the super league, because of its fast flowing and nion stop rugby, as a result of good weather and ground surfaces. from experience playing rugby in the summer i would agree that summer rugby is the way forward for Britain and Ireland.
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having played rugby since i was 4 and the ball seemingly was the size of my entire body, i think that winter rugby, sometimes, can be awful. however, some players love the rough and tumble - myself not amoung them but i thought that their opinion should be valued too. however, i totally agree with comment 13 on this blog, where the season is more spread out, or have the season split in 2 - with a break to cut out the majority of the really cold stuff. playing in the height of summer though would be a giant mistake at grass root level. kids go on holiday at this time and cant be bothered to do anyting-least of all get nailed onto brown grass the texture of concrete!
what does everyone thing of that then?
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As a player i agree, after playing this season in mud upto my ankle and the skill level really low as the play is ''stick it up your jumper'' kind of style its poor.What are we learning are we improving playing like that ? i fear not. more sun means more people watching , more peolpe playing and more getting better at the game surely the irb has to listen
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Spring autumn a good Idea no idea how it would work. Dallalio struggling in the heat? I don't think so he is very fast and has great hands I'd rather knock him over (try to anyway) on a bog than on a well grassed hard pitch.
Bodies quickley adapt with scrapes from the hard ground etc! ask anyone who has pre seasoned in Italy France etc.No grazes after a week.....maybe two
If there was a winter stop for rugby and football. Therefore skiing on tv. We would get a gold medal at the downhill at the winter olympics?
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As a winger I find that my level of competence is much higher during summer training and the first and last 10 games of the season. I am very aware I am being soft! However playing in the north east it can get very cold and in my opinion rugby from April to October would be great.....but not enough to make me want to take up league.
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Keep rugby as a winter sport.
Having played in the backs for over 20 years at local club level I've always preferred days when the ground is soft or slightly firm. The summer months generally mean the ground will be hard resulting in more injuries. Whilst professional clubs can water the pitches to make them playable in dry conditions, local clubs won't be able to. In addition, a lot of the guys I played alongside play cricket in the summer months. Why make the players choose between sports and reduce the availability to both sports.
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Absolutely not- no summer conversion. Rugby is a participation sport and should not be dictated to by commercial factors or by 'fans'. Put on an extra layer if cold!
From a playing perspective, softer ground is safer to fall on. It can also be leveller which means union retains this element of uncertainty in the result (as well as the ref).
In any event, global warming ensures that we play in more summery conditions than we used to.
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"At 11:10 AM on 25 Jan 2007, Chris S wrote:
At last. Surely this is the final straw that the Rugby Union obsessed media need to recognise that Rugby League is a better version of the oval code!"
HOW VERY DARE YOU!!!
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I trained two nights ago in the freezing temperatures and it was one of the best sessions in a long while. If it's cold then you layer up and you quickly get warm.
If more rugby was played in the summer then the injury rate would surely go up. I played in a 7s tournament last year in baking heat and due to the ground being rock solid many people became injured.
Keep summer for pre-season training!
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In a word - NO !
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Rugby is a winter sport, the gentle folk who play league have switched to summer to avoid the poor dears catching a cold bless em...
Rugby fans are a hardy bunch, we love our sport so much we'll watch whatever the weather. Sports with fair weathered fans take note!
:-)
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the above article makes sense. How much do we all enjoy the long nights of early season training where players train until its too dark. Furthermore who doesnt enjoy the pre-season freindlys (where the ball is dry and ground is good for running, or sevens competition (where the good weather allows an amazing spectable)... summer rugby bring it on.
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Why is everyone so determined that rugby should be played throughout only one season?
Both summer and winter playing have advantages and disadvanteges for the players and spectators. New leagues could be created to allow for all year playing.
I appreciate that the players require time to relax their bodies but this could easily be done during the hottest and coldest month of the year.
This way a team that wishes to be truly succesful will have to train for the pace and skills of warm weather playing, whilst being able to keep ball in hand and stay focused through harsh winter weather.
We should not be discussing when/when not to play rugby but exploring the real reasons for play to not continue throughout the year.
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I can't believe the amount of comments that contradict John Beattie's views. I for one am absolutely in favour of summer rugby.
For one, the issues raised over grounds being too dry and hard...well, league manages it perfectly well. In fact, so have the South Africans, the Aussies and arguably, given the warmer climate, the South of France, where there is a noticeable stronghold compared to the more northern areas of France. This argument of spongy grounds just doesn鈥檛 stack up? In fact, I am sure it puts greater strain on ankles.
Furthermore, the constant (yawn) bickering between club & country over the demands on players due to the seasonal calendars of the two hemispheres would be wiped out. Bad news for those who love the politicking and bickering and headlines of dissent, but great news for the rest of us.
Finally, what else could we watch during the winter? I might bring myself to watch a bit of football, there鈥檚 always NFL when the footie bores me stupid, and it is feasible to also follow the lead of run-and-wriggle (rugby league) in separating pro-rugby (for summer) with amateur Union carry on in the winter, as we do now.
But mostly, warm weather (warmER, anyway) to watch/play, would result in better skills (come on, it鈥檚 a no brainer that skills would improve, witness the improvement in skills at the beginning & end of the season compared to the Oct-Feb portion), with national/Lions tours and world cups having their place in a well structured, homogenised season that fits both hemispheres. No more player burn-out, or at least, an ability to manage this issue effectively.
Summer rugby鈥ring it on!
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NO!
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if you want to compete with South Africa and Australia it is a must. Rugby should be played up until 18 in the summer when skills can be developed and used later when playing against adults.
They play rubgy in the winter in New Zealand and they aren't too shabby at the moment. But if kids can learn skills at an early age then they will be set for life.
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Just read some comments from the people above which has along with my friend has caused discussion on how wrong these people can be, for example rugby union is a far better game! Not only to play but to also watch, no disrespect to those who play league as the fitness of all these players is quite outstanding but rugby union is far more interesting! Also on the subject of rugby in the summer, that is ridiculous because of the physical nature of the game the players will be basically destroying there health with dehidration and to play it in the summer is just stupid!! Anyway its one heck of an interestin game when played in snow or wet conditions whilst in summer it would just hurt as your leg is torn by the hard ground!
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I played in the Northeast USA for a few years. The season was split into a fall and spring season. Over there the snow prevents winter play and the summer is far too hot. So like many others have suggested, an extended winter break would be good.
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I trained last night for my team on a freezing common in South East London. Once you've done your first lap of the pitch, surely you shouldn't be worrying about the cold. The only time it registered for me was between leaving the showers and being dressed (not fun).
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For Scotland,
Why not have a summer season for the pro teams and leave the amateur season as it is. Therefore no problem for clubs playing on hard ground and no conflict between clubs and districts for attendance.
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Yep - most of that stuff's full of good points.
I agree that playing and training in the middle of winter, for player and spectator, has plenty of disadvantages - and agree that dry pitches in the height of summer can be dangerous e.g. if the pitch was frozen and of a similar hardness in winter, games would be called off.
I don't think there is an easy alternative - however I would say that currently the scottish clubs premiership seasons schedule ends very early in the year, with most originally scheduled fixtures complete by end of March/start of April.
How hard would it be to take a break through January/ start of Feb and fulfill remaining fixtures afterwards concluding the season out in early May?
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Rugby is played in the summer, it's called sevens.
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Look at this from a schools rugby view - after all, that is where it all starts from. I have seen more injuries to boys during the September months when the grounds are still bone hard, and (some of) the boys are not yet fit. I have always thought that the schools should play 7's to the end of October and Rugby XV starts in earnest after half term. 7's gets their fitness level up, as well as handling skills on firmer surfaces. When it comes to the adults and the professional game, the standards of pitches and medical attention is now much greater and winter rugby is a must. We are only talking about 2 or 3 weeks a year when the ground freezes, and if it does, the game should not go ahead. Finally, as a supporter of Rugby League - and yes there are a few out there who watch both codes without any historic bias, Summer rugby is already in place and has been a great success. What other sport allows you to watch it all year round?
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Having played RL in both the summer and the winter i'd always prefer playing in the winter at open age.
While it is valid that skill aquisition is easier in the summer (and hence, rugby for kids must move to the summer to help both rugby codes internationally compete!) it is just as tough playing on a rock hard, sun-baked pitch, in 25C, as it is on a rock hard, frozen solid, pitch in -1C....
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SORRY BUT RUGBY LEAGUE GOT THERE FIRST!!
Although I follow league more than union, I like both codes equally and would like to see both sports thrive. I like the fact of being able to follow rugby all year round: union in the winter, league in the summer. I would hate to see a time when once again union and league are in direct competition for attendances, which I believe would be detrimental to both sports.
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From my rugby-playing days, I remember a few games (only a few each season) where we kept expecting the polar bears and penguins to toss up over which side to support, but there was nothing better than running out onto the pirch on a crisp, clear winters day - perfect rugby weather - playing in the summer is for wimps (and codes which can't take the competition) and the antipodeans, who haven't a choice.
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How about 12 months of the year.
The backs can train & play in the summer & the real men all year round.
Perfect solution ;-)
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Winter conditions in NZ (almost identical to ours), don't seem to hinder rugby in New Zealand, and the perfomance of the All Blacks for that matter.
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I play rugby and have been for several years now. If you have passion for the game then the weather doesnt matter, sun, rain or shine. I've played rugby in the summer but only social its good. but the thrill of tackling someone into a mud bath is alot more appealing than tackling them on a hard ground. And i have been a supporter watching rugby in the cold, it just makes the beer after alot more enjoyable.
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i play rugby for my school team i am only in year 8 but i have played in twix it was amazing but the people who play rugby leage are not playing proper rugby with out the cold it is no fun
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I can see both sides of the argument- Impoved skills in summer with more injuries v softer grounds but poorer standards.
However one point that is normally mentioned that has not been raised is the issue of rugby playign numbers. Rugby is not a hugely popular sport north of the border. Many players who participate in winter, play golf or cricket or such sports in warmer months. These players may be lost to the game. Who knows though, more may be recruited.
Secondly, rugby is often oplayed at school in the younger age group who take the largest holiday from June to September. How would switching to summer rugby affect those at the grass roots level- as they would be on holiday during the height of the summer season?
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As a former player I can say with all certainty that I would have hated summer rugby. The issue of the heat with the physical demands of the game is bad enough. However, painful memories of being caught in a tackle and driven backwards in mid air with only rock hard ground to break my fall lead me to favour winter/spring. I like the idea of the mid winter break for the professional players though.
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I'm not sure that summer rugby is the way to go for community rugby - what happens to those guys who spend every saturday of the year either at the Rugby or Cricket club? They would be forced to go shopping on winter staurdays and having recently done this I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
However, the professional game would benefit in every way - increased skill level, revenue etc. Watching the game on a warm summer evening enjoying a cold beer would be great. On a more serious note it would also allow us to develop a global season which would reduce the problems we are currently seeing in France about the timetabling of the Wrold Cup. At present it only seems to be Northern Hemisphere teams who suffer from the scheduling of the World Cup, Lions Tours and the like.
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Playing Rugby in Canada for the past few years, the majority of our better players come from British Columbia were they can and do play all year round. The rest of us get to suffer the extremes of -30 degrees in the winter (snow rugby is chilly to say the least, but after a few minutes you don't feel a thing until you thaw out!) to +30 in the summer (Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate). Bottom line is that to get serious, training must go on year round, so therefore must competition.
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I don't think Johnnie necessarily meant playing the game at the height of summer. I think all he means is, why play when the weather conditions are seriously atrocious. A break over the coldest months of Jan/Feb would be a good idea and extending the season into late spring/early summer would mean better quality pitches, less chance of cancellations and an all-round improvement in skill. The Aussies play in their winter which, as one post says, is like the average British summer. It all makes sense to me...
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In the interests of developing greater player skills, but also as a way of helping to minimise the severe injury crisis that's blighting the game, maybe we should look at how the US structures it's season by splitting it in 2, taking a 6 week break during the coldest, wettest months. Having played in the premiership, albeit never as first choice until the game went professional, and then moving to the US where I also played for a number of years, it's certainly something worth considering. Oh, and by the way, to those sceptics worrying about hard pitches during a British summer or player de-hydration, as someone fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to play in the north and southern hemisphere during all seasons, British pitches aren't hard at any time. Moreover, does it really get that hot? If so, I may consider moving back from North Carolina where, I am pleased to report, even the schools are finally picking up the ball and running with it, in the proper sense of course. Moreover, they're doing it during spring and autumn where it tends to be a balmy 85 degrees most of the time.
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I was a number three and weighing in at 20st. And although I was heavy, due to the level I played I was always fit i.e. could last a full National Three game (despite what my coach said). I have played rugby in both extremes and can therefore stick my beak in.
When I played in South Africa, the pre-season began in Feb at 31celcius and during the depths of winter the temp never got less than 12celcius (that was a night game, under floodlights). Like a true POM I always complained about the heat, but trooped on. However what we experience playing here in the UK are the two extremes of pre-season starting off in June/July and the temp being too high, but a little more bearable than SA, and then the snow, sleet and shards of ice in December/January.
My suggestion would be this the rugby season should be international, Northern Hemisphere Spring/Summer and Southern Hemisphere Autumn/Winter. Ideal months would work that pre-season starts in Feb and ends by July. However once the temp begins to rise we can play evening matches (kick-off between 7pm&8pm). This would mean the temps are moderate and light is not a huge problem, more likely to have more sunshine at 9pm in June than at the RFU standardised kick-off of 3pm in December.
There are always going to be problems but they can be ironed out and we will have proper international weekends like football and no one can say we lost the tour due to our hard season.
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oh come on neil griffiths, have you ever played rugby in +30 degree heat, on concrete-hard pitches, for over two straight months?...it's not for the faint of heart...i've played in canada (where the season runs from april straight through to november) and in ireland and i had way more fun playing in the heat than in the cold and rain...training was much better as well (having upwards of 60 players attending), especially after, hanging out in the car park having a few beers with the lads on a warm summer night...if you keep the grass on the pitches a bit longer and wear mouldies, it's all good...for the fans, there's nothing like watching a match in t-shirts and shorts, instead of scarves, hats, gloves and the rest of the gear required to conquer mt. everest...
had to laugh at martin corry's comment after their recent victory over munster - "that was leicester's best performance in 4 years" - or something along those lines...2 tries and a 13-6 victory constitutes a great performance?...imagine if that classic encounter was played in early june...many more tries would likely be the end result...
scrap the split-season idea - half your side's fitness levels will drop considerably after a two-month winter break...
it's a no-brainer, bring on summer footy!
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There are 2 solutions ,one is to improve the drainage of your pitches to solve the mud problem.
If you want to play in the summer ,go and play in Australia!
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DON'T play in the summer.
The ground is like rock and the potential for injury far greater than in the autumn and winter months.
I agree that fitness training would be easier but there it ends.
Even grass burns would become a hazard.
Top pro sides may be ok because they would be playing on lovely lush green surfaces but the mainstream would truly suffer.
The elements also tend to be a great leveller.
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rugby is a winter sport and shuld be played in the winter i play for ciren rugby club and it is so much better in the winter when it is raining and not in the blazing hot sun at the hard fround i have played in it and on it and it is painful
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For me it is a no brainer. Summer rugby HAS to happen for the good of the game. i play against John's team up here and i too will be going over on my ankle at least twice tonight before calling it a day. Thinking of how many injuries we have in the winter, i cant imagine they would be any worse in summer. plus footwork [backs and forwards] means u can avoid the body comprimising positions that are achieved on a wet soggy pitch.
for those who dont want to shop with the wife. play indoor sports like basketball or badminton or tennis. much more fun than shoping and drowning in a puddle on a wet january pitch!
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As someone who has moved from playing rugby in the UK to playing in Canada where my current provinces climate (and a whole load of snow) dictate the season must run over the summer, I can honestly say I would prefer to go back to playing through the autumn and winter.
Temperatures this summer reached as high as 35C while we were both training and playing which was not fun at all! Also, the pitches became ridiculously hard resulting in continually bruised and scratched elbows and knees in addition to the largest number of ankle injuries I have ever seen in a season.
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Being an all year round player i have found that the early parts of summer are the best. Soft pitches warm weather, no blasting heat or biting winds. A twice yearly break in the depths of winter and a heigths of summer are a great idea. Pitch conditions are ideal and skills will definately improve. This will make our countries rugby much better for the players and the fans. It's time for a change.!!
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it would be a good idea if we did but in my opnion it is a lot more fun running around in the mud and sluch say myself got dump tackled on hard ground it would hurt but in winter u dont feel a thing because the ground is nice and slushy. it is definatley more fun playing in winter then in summmer as somebody said its brings on a lot more things to think about. Thats why you should do fitness throughout the summer and and techniques and tackling rucking and mauling throught the winter.
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I totally agree that playing some form of rugby in summer is essential for developing greater ball handling skills amongst players in the UK as there is an obvious difference between here and the southern hemisphere.
I have just finished playing & coaching the scottish mens team at the Touch Rugby World Cup in Stellenbosch. We resorted to training on astro and indoor artificial turf surfaces because the ground conditions over winter aren't suited to developing the players handling skills. The other point i would like to make is that at the tournament it reached 39 degrees C! We suffered badly but it is a massive testament to the athletic abilities of the Aussies and Kiwis that there were able to play at a phenomenal level in those conditions, its not impossible!
Touch rugby is taught in Australian & New Zealand schools from a young age during their summer which enables them to develop the ball handling skills we see in international rugby union today, they have been doing it for years. Also the participation in the sport there is huge with over 1 million registered touch players in Australian and it being one of the largest participation sports in New Zealand. There is a strong argument that touch in summer can aid in the development of ball handling and fitness skills in the UK. The art of contact can be learnt in the mud & rain during winter.
We do have representative players in all forms of rugby playing touch in the summer leagues in Edinburgh and if its good enough for them... Edinburgh is also hosting the touch world cup in 2011. Come along then if you are interested to see what ball handling skills are! (Apologies for the plug!)
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the way i see it - if players have problems with their skill levels during cold/wet weather then they couldn't be very skillful! and players who are at the top skull levels at winter would be supreme in the summer then!
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why dont you guys think about it from a Canadian point of view we have horribly cold winters and during the summer its extremly hot now just imagine that you guys should count yourselfs lucky when i get out of my house and its -3 im happy with it
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Rugby is a winter game full stop!!.
Its alll about hard men battling the elements. The pitches in summer would be too hard for the professional players and you could see a rise in injury.
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Other than during horrific droughts, Summer Rugby is perfectly acheivable, even at amateur level, as proved by rugby league's conference competition. A season-blighting drought is no more likely than a winter season of frozen pitches which happens from time-to-time. I rememeber losing about 8 league games to frost and snow one season in the early 90s when I played Union for Yarnbury in Yorkshire. I played a lot of league and union, but only sevens in the summer - in my opinion you are more likely to get a serious injury in a mudbath, whereas a summer pitch is just worse for minor scrapes.
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Firstly whether winter or summer I prefer watching union over league - which is a sport I personally find boring to watch due to the fact it is hard to turnover possession until a side has completed its set number of tackles, which I find frustrating. I do however prefer union in warmer conditions though with early Autumn and the spring providing the best time to play when pitches are harder to encourage running rugby but also still soft enough.
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im not realy bothered what weather i play rugby i love playing it whenever i can. its a great all year round sport in my opinion and fun to watch at any level in any condition!
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Summer rugby would make for better ball skills for example the off load because who is going to want to take a hit on concrete esp forwards with their extra bulk. However as people have mentioned above me a greater strain is placed upon players (hasn't hurt any 'Boks) as I'm no longer allowed to play by the powers that be for the foreseeable future (doctors) ruddy sub laxating left clavical sternum joint
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The IRB has been looking at a rugby world calendar and this would be the perfect opportunity. A split season with a 6 week break in mid summer and a 6 week break mid winter would mean teams from both hemispheres would have the same seasons. This would allow international teams to play each other when they are both peaking rather than say, Eng. playing NZ at the end of the season when they are tired and vice versa. The domestic compettitions could be played early in the year - then an international programme before the start of summer, then Heineken Cup/ Super 14 in the 2nd part of the year. Maybe the European champions vs. the Super 14 champions and finish off with 6 Nations/ Tri Nations. This would improve the quality of play and of the international competition but should be for professional players only.
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I've been playing for 45 years and only occaisionally have I not enjoyed playing because of the weather. Pitches are much better now than when I started and a game is much more likely to be called off to protect the pitch now.
Has anybody heard of Global Warming? The winter weather is getting warmer all the time, although it may also be getting a bit wetter in winter. Give it a few more years and it will be barmy all year round for those soft spectators who can't take a bit of cold. Who needs them anyway?
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Summer or winter the British Isles will always be behind the Southern hemisphere until they grasp the concept of grass roots rugby.
As an England supporter living in NZ I see how far we lag behind at this level.
There is always opportunity to move from playing for a lowly amateur club or university to get noticed by a bigger club or regional union.
Also the Summer touch rugby game helps players improve their skills, speed and fitness.This is played in Mens, Mixed and youth groups and is really popular with Islanders and Maoris. I played rugby in Norfolk and can't ever remember touch being played there.
I play touch here and its a fantastic social game.
Give a Kiwi the top job at the RFU and they would sort out this problem.
Lastly you could play union at the top level in the UK in summer, just have to be evening kick offs.
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Could this be used to spread out the professional season. Let the professionals play in the summer so that the average player/fan can play rugby for their local clubs during the winter and watch the internationals during the summer.
Again Win/Win.
Personally I find the ground too hard to play on in the early and late season and usually end up injured for September and April. I find the softer grounds far more conducive to enjoyable play.
I think its called age!!!
The club I play for regularly have to scratch games during the international parts of the season. Anything that can be done to move the internationals outside of the community rugby season should be welcomed.
In conclusions - Yes for the professionals - No for the rest.
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Morning Jock
I remember when we were in Australia for a match in Brisbane there were loads of families having a "Barbie" on the ground before the match and they spilled onto the pitch afterwards and nobody gave a hoot. I thought then we should move to summer rugby.
Think of the opportunities to involve the community and families in particualr in rugby if it was played in the summer.
I had the same experience in South Africa
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Hi
Yup, a lot of good points. Some interesting points about global warming too, but I look at the kids trying to learn mini rugby on the pitches across from my house some Sunday mornings, where they stand there, freezing and covered in mud, and wonder how they do it.
My gut reaction, having been born and brought up in Borneo and then Malaysia and having been in New Zealand, Australia and France, is that the conditions you train in have an impact on your skill level.
Coached at my club last night, and I met the father of one of the second fifteen players who said that last week his son had hypothermia. And he should know, the dad's a doctor!
There is a massive problem tying in to the school game which is winter based - there are other summer sports - but I think the ground hardness aspect could be tackled and I just thing that when rugby is a fun game, my goodness, it would be so much more fun to play it in the British summer.
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I live in spain n play rugby for the marbella U 18's and we still play in the summer even though it is 40 odd degrees celsius out there!! although i guess we do get knackered lol bt any way we should play rugby at any chance we get!!!
RUGBY RULES
PEACE
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I think it's fair to say that, if you are worried by the cold and/or upset by the rain, you should re-consider your choice of past-time and take up badminton instead... There are certain elements to the game of rugby that make it the glorious spectacle it is; one of which is the constant battle with whatever elements Mother Nature deems appropriate on the matchday in question, and the player's and the team's ability to adapt.
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Having spent numerous pre-season rugby sessions with no skin on my knees, elbows and thighs due to playing on hard ground I can categorically say I would much rather brave the cold.
That said I can understand that the weather in Scotland makes it even harsher in winter and that summers are as a bit wetter making playing conditions more favourable.
Completely agree that a major factor in the higher skill levels of the Aussies is due to favourable training/playing conditions... same could be said of certain French teams.
Basically we're alright down south!
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Someone mentioned NZ play in the winter. This is true but I think Xavier Ruch or Ben Blair saying that the pitches out there are sand based and are very good and dry even in the winter, which leads to a fast open gaem even if the weather isn't perticularly nice.
I thinkg the best option mentioned here is the winter and summer 8 week break. A winner n everyones books, including the groundsmen's
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I played rugby for my school for years in Northern Ireland from late September to March and during that time we played in the most horrendous conditions, knee high in mud and soaked by the rain!
Yes it was cold and your shirt weighed a ton but I loved every minute of this! Maybe it was the wee boy in me but I loved nothing better than sliding over the try line in the mud or sliding across the pitch to make a tackle and in the process looking like some kind of monster covered head to toe in muck.
The most satisfying feelings I ever had were those times I walked off a pitch exhausted and dripping in mud, knowing I had given my all and looking forward to a warm shower. The idea of walking off the pitch with my kit still clean in summer rugby just doesnt appeal to me! I would feel as if I hadn't even been playing. Plus my mentality is if you can catch a ball covered in mud with cold, wet hands and then use that ball to play attacking rugby then surely catching it and applying those same skills to summer rugby would be a walk in the park.
On a side note over my 7 year period playing rugby at school I never had one serious injury until at the end of Sixth Year we went on a tour to South Africa. Hard picthes and blazing heat combined to nearly put at end to my rugby playing days with torn cruciate ligaments. So as far as Im concerned long live winter rugby!
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The Australians and South Africans play on grounds that are harder in their winter than the ground here in our summer and their skills are better for it. More people would take the game up and enjoy it more both as players and spectators if it was played in the better weather. Unfortuantely the old school ties who run the club game here in Scotland where we have most to gain from such a move because the weather is so bad are too conservative.
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i think that rugby should be played i the summer because there isn't enough time for people to reach their peak. especially in school/college level. i also don't agree with the comment on dehydration. what if you get picked for england and end up playing in Australia and South Africa you will be playing in the heat so its good training.
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I worked on The QE2 for several world cruises and our ships rugby team played in Fiji, Oz, NZ and Lisbon in baking conditions in Trainers not boots making scrummaging difficult with no grip and being tackled resulted in loss of large areas of skin being lost. We lost all of those games but in Japan where it was snowing the boots came out and we had a cracking game. No injuries either and if you've slid a few yards with the ball tightly held over the try line you haven't lived.
Long Live Winter Rugby!!
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As a follower of rugby union, I think the argument many people are using: "If Rugby League works in the summer, why can't Rugby Union?" are forgetting a couple of important things. Scrummaging on rock-hard ground can be extremely difficult, given the need for good grip. Admittedly, when the ground is too wet grip also becomes an issue, but not to the same extent. I'd Also rather find myself at the bottom of a ruck on a slightly more forgiving surface, than feeling like my torso is being driven into a concrete surface. The codes are different, and therefore are suited to different environments.
I would agree that something must be done to ease the Club versus Country conflict at the top level in England, but I'm not sure that completely moving the season is the answer. Maybe the more moderate line of extending the season by a couple of weeks at either end would work?
As for those who are commenting on the conditions abroad, please remember that most of the players in those countries have had their entire lives to acclimatise to those conditions. Those of us in the United Kingdom are, for the most part, used to our own weather. Why is that an issue?
As a supporter, I also attend every home game of the season in an uncovered stand, as do many people I know. Is the need to attract more supporters great enough to justify moving the season? In my opinion, it isn't. Haven't the numbers attending Rugby Union games risen steadily over the past few years anyway, despite the season sometimes having less than hospitable weather?
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Rugby Union is a winter game, no doubt about it. To develop skills then touch rugby or sevens is the best way to do this. Both games are faster, safer for the kids and more than meet the requirements for skills handling. James Hook, the new Welsh Messiah learnt his skills playing 7s. Doesn't seem to sloppy playing for Ospreys in a part of the country not usually renowned for sunny climate.
A winter break would be a good idea as well however as it would provide the guys with a little rest and resolve some of the burn out risks. So Sevens and Touch Rugby to develop skills and a break in the Winter to stop burnout. Simple really.
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We've been discussing this all season at our club. The biggest issue most of us have is not playing rugby at all because the weather has cancelled it! As for skill levels, well rugby is attritional, try going to Nantyglo in the Gwent valley when you are ankle deep in mud and its blowing a gale, we all felt like we were in the trenches of WW1 fighting for our very existence! Brilliant. My biggest gripe is that the new Autumn internationals means hardly any rugby played during November, then you get back into it and it goes on hold during Six Nations. The reality for most Welsh clubs is that we have to play well into May, every season because of Weather and Internationals anyway and thats when the weather hasn't been too bad. Most of us would love to play in Summer because we would get to play week in week out, with no weather or Internationals to mess things up....
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Sumer rugby isn't a good idea really. It mightappeal on the cold afternoons or nights if it's crispy but it's nothing compared to the harder ground during a dry summer - try training on astroturf.
I'm also not sure if you'd end up losing player at club level as well. I want to be spending my summer afternoons in pub beer gardens, or having BBQ's etc, rather than sweating my tit's off running around the rugby pitch.
SO call me a wet, cold, grey weather player.
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I can back up the comments about rugby in NZ - over here rugby is the winter sport, and touch the summer game. Every Wedneday and Thursday evening in summer here in Christchurch the parks and rugby clubs are packed with hundreds of people playing touch. Almost everybody has skills to burn and even the 'social' leagues are seriously competitive - which is not good news if you're a slightly-out-of-shape Englishman who hasn't played rugby of any sort since school, trying to chase down a nippy kiwi or two.
Kids learn to play rugby in ripper rugby, usually in warm weather and bare feet.
By the time the winter rolls round and club and school rugby starts, skills have been practised and honed, players have been kept fit, and they're free to get stuck in.
Coaching and developing players can be done in the fine weather, but perhaps only if there is the will and inclination to be involved in a sport (in slightly different forms) almost all year round.
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First of all, all this rubbish about the winter being for "real" men is nonsense.Lets try and get away from that mentality, its all macho crap. I only played rugby for about 3 years but can say that the best and most enjoyable games were not played in ankle deep mud or quagmires but on firm pitches in decent weather.Everybody was up for it, it produced good running, flowing rugby and had a decent crowd enjoying a beer and the game. Compare this to games in freezing cold, wet conditions where passing rugby is almost non-existent. As was stated before it resorts to "up the jumper" games where the backs never see the ball, not good to participate in or watch. I played in games where myself and my opposite winger were both blue with cold, and then when we did eventually see the ball your hands and muscles were so numb that taking a pass was difficult and then trying to take off at full speed resulted in losing your footing and leg muscle injuries. Better weather produced better rugby and better skills, bring it on.
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I don't usually enter into these 'discussions' but as someone who played RU in the UK for well over 30 years (a lot of that time at a very good standard), coached youth and now at 60'ish still an active L8 referee managing 3 (sometimes 4) games a week-end I would appeal to anyone else participating to disregard the pro-summer submissions!!
This climate/tradition suits our present rugby playing season September-April, school holidays, player availability (child/youth or adult), competition with 'summer' sports, growing season (for pitches to recover/revive/renew), Club revenue streams and our annual lemming-like exodus to the sun come July.
Discount the professional game and consider only the vast majority of 10's of 1000's of people that play Club/school rugby. Agreed maybe we do lose a few fixtures due to weather (not really the case for the past few years though) but its not all about running, high speed/skills rugby for most players and certainly spectating has no input into the argument - if they want to watch they will turn up (the same comment goes for playing and you don't hear much about players not turning out because it's raining or cold!).
Any discussion concerning successful RL is a separate subject but since the shrinking of it's working class grass roots origins it is really only about the professional code (which sadly has been in decline since Super League and 'big' money high-jacked the game - oh, and the advent of professional RU).
Maybe there is a good argument for a short winter pause but summer rugby for the amateurs- forget it!
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I played in the the first year of Summer Rugby League for St.Albans Centurians versus Oxford in a development League in the South of England back in 1996/7.
Basically a bunch of Union players playing Rugby League .
The pitches were lush and grassy allbeit quite hard and I can only say that I thoroughly enjoyed it all. I can safely say that throwing the ball around in such good conditions improved our Union play and gave us confidence to pass .
BBQ after the game sitting around in shorts with an Icey Lager. Kids were playing in the bouncy castle and the WAGS were all having Picnics etc .It all seemed very pleasant indeed.
I know a lot of Rugby Players play Cricket in the summer and this may be a big problem as domestic Cricket stuggles for exposure at the best of times but maybe a slight shift towards the better weather will be a good thing .
When a Watford striker moving to Aston Villa gets more coverage than the England Squad in the 6 Nations then I think it is pointless trying to compete against Football.
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I haven't read every single post on the blog, just the first 30 or so, so apologies if someone already made this point.
But unquestionably the best side in the world right now are the All Blacks. New Zealand, just like much of the UK, is not noted for long spells of dry, baking hot weather. Play a game at Invercargill, Christchurch or Dunedin in the winter and the conditions can be appalling. From memory at least two of the Lions tests in 2005 were played in pretty poor conditions, but it didn't cause too many problems for the ABs.
Basically only Australia and South Africa of the major rugby nations play on baking hard pitches for lengthy parts of their season. We can't use weather as an excuse for our poor basic skills - in the end it boils down to historical poor coaching at all levels and to an extent an over-emphasis on power over precision. Thankfully the penny seems to have dropped on that and in the young players coming through for all the home nations the skill levels seem much better.
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Rugby league at amateur level is still very much a winter game. So if RU followed this then it wouldn't affect any of the amateur clubs but may increase the pro clubs attendances and speed of the game. All pro clubs would water the ground so that scrummaging wouldn't be affected and (too) hard grounds avoided.
I was very against summer RL when first mentioned. Now i love it watching the game in the sunlight and with some beer! I can't think how i used to hack watching the match on bitterly cold nights now! And the kids love it. I know if summer RU was near me, i would watch that too.
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Summer rugby what a silly idea - just take a look at rugby league what a disaster that has been - NOT? Record crowds fast, exciting running rugby etc etc etc. When are the people that run our game going to realise that the most attractive parts of the game - running with ball in hand and passing are shown at their best when the conditions are more favourable. In addition when you look at the sort of crowds that are pitching up to support Glasgow, Edinburgh and Borders on freezing cold wet Friday(predominately) nights then it does not take a rocket scientist to see that this can be helped significantly with some more favourable conditions for the fans
Finally I coach a P5 Mini rugby team that had a game on Sunday 21st January 2007 this being the first game that our team had been able to play since early November due to waterlogged pitches - What do I think of summer rugby - Bring It On!
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I think if we look at the way the weather is going then this wont be an issue anyway, we havent really had a winter this year with just last week being the usual winter conditions. I don't play any more but I remember hating the start of the season playing on rock hard brown grass piches in high temperatures where you would come off the pitch with half your skin missing. As a club we would always have more nasty injuries on the early season pitches than later in the season(how many amateur clubs could water pitches?).
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Having eaperienced playing in both hemispheres, I can safely say my sting in Sydney was the more enjoyable from the playing side. I don't think a complete switch to the summer is needed, but the idea of a formal winter break rather than the staggered one with an increasing amount of postponed fixtures would be the sensible move. I've heard club officials argue against this as it would impact club revenues. At least with a set break to the season plans can be put in place for events to cover this. Whereas you might have several games cancelled on a thurs/fri night during Dec/Jan/Feb and all of a sudden you have an empty clubhouse for the weekend as guys get dragged off by wives/girlfriends etc. I can't see many ways this could be detrimental to any level of rugby...
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Why ask if rugby should be played in summer? I have been attending rugby games throughout the summer for several years now. Whst next for this blog? Should soccer be played with a round ball?
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Rugby Is played in the summer. The season starts on the weekend of February 10/11th and finishes in October.
The only problem with that is there is still too much of it in the winter!
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rugby isn't already played in the summer? so for the past few years what has been that strange game i've been watching at wigan, warrington, st. helens, london and bradford....
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Rugby is already played in the UK in summer, so this discussion is about as pointless as it gets.
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From looking through these posts, it seems a large portion of the comments are from people who haven't seen summer RL. All I can see is that you have a treat coming - watch a few games and you'll never again ask whether summer rugby is a good idea.
p.s. take a look at the skill levels.
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Should rugby be played in summer?
What a bizarre question.
I've been watching rugby played in summer for the past 12 years. Have you not noticed it being played?
Perhaps you mean "Should rugby union be played in summer?"
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Campbell says we need summer rugby to take on Oz and SA - Ireland did fairly well against them in the Autumn without it! As for us being lucky not to have met NZ, just maybe. Better to meet them when you have a team than when you dont. Having said that I think Post 71 from Paul Murray is one of the best I have seen on this or any other blog and should be the basis for study by all our Unions.
As for Malachy and his criticism of Martin Corry, ask the all other Captains who left Thomond without the points for the past 10 years. The score doesnt need to be 40-30 to have a match.
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If rugby union was played in the summer, cricket (in general) would be in a far worse position that it already is. Goodness knows have many good union players all over the country pick up a bat in May once the season's over. Moving Ruby Union to the summer is a non starter, for that reason alone, never mind any perceived benefits for union itself.
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For Steve May 103,
Perhaps you should look at the fact that you are in a rugby union blog and not be so sarcastic in your postings in future.
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Steve in post 103
I understand, I should have said rugby union, fair point. And I think one of the reasons the GB rugby league team is holding its own is probably down to summer rugby league - certainly English based players are fitter now and have more skill
JB
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Do you know how dangerous it is to play rugby in the summer? In the summer the ground can be as rock solid as it is in the dead of winter and not only is it bad for ankle stability but if you hit the ground hard, it will hurt, just like on a cold, winters morning. The thing is, in summer, it is also hot so you alos run a greater risk of dehydration, so ofcourse we shouldn't train in summer. be reasonable.
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For the same reasons as Lardinio (No. 105), I don't think summer rugby would work (in Ireland) - too much competition from Gaelic games which will always win out for attendances. Summer soccer is played in Ireland which is a definite plus for those teams competing in Europe, but I don't think they have gained more supporters and you do hear a lot of complaints about certain fixtues clashing.
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On the contrary to Dominic's points:
I have been playing rugby in the summer months in Ontario for the last 6 years. Having done both, having played in Scotland and England for the first 24 years of my life, there is no way on earth I would ever go back to playing winter rugby. It makes no sense. The firm ground brings to the fore players with quicker feet and speed, hence the game is faster. There are no ruts to twist your ankle on. We wear mouldies most of the time. We only have to warm up for 30 mins max cause its really hot, sometimes in the high 90's. We have less muscular injuries due to the heat. It's a pleasure actually. And lastly, your risk of dehydration is counter balanced by your water intake. We hydrate before, during and (sometimes) after the game. We have mandatory water breaks. Stop being such a wuss.!
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Well, in France there are many tournois played in the Summer. I've also played in the US in the Summer months. I've played in both countries through June, July and August. I've been playing regularlyy through the Summers in France for the past four years. The biggest threats are the rock hard ground, dehydration and the sun.
Andy
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but isnt the summer reserved for the sevens? i mean, when else could you do a 15 minute per half game (admittedly at full pace) without looking like a bunch of lazy slobs.
Also, if there was both sevens and fifteens on during the summer, wouldn't the players that are gifted at both codes be a bit overworked?
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Two points: First, concerning climate change, all models predict that Britain will get colder as melting Arctic ice pushes the Gulf Stream south, so summer rugby will become inevitable. Secondly, if you live in a place where temperatures get into the 30s (and I live in Thailand, where 30C is considered cool), you don't have 3PM kick-offs - you have 5PM or 6PM kick-offs, or later for facilities with flood-lights
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As a point of interest, in Canada,with the exception of south west British Columbia, rugby is played in summer, the season change is necessary as the only winter outdoor sport played in eastern and central Canada is ice hockey. Some young rugby players play in Vancouver during the winter and in Edmonton during the summer.
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Say what you like, shortly the IRB will be bringing the Northern and Southern hemispheres, into line.
I would put my house on it, that it will not be the Southern Hemisphere who will be changing their season.
There ends all discussion
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I once spent ten minutes of a lunch break playing an impromtpu game of rugby on a factory's concrete car park. It lasted until the first serious tackle went in and resulted in both tackler and tacklee needing considerable amounts of First Aid.
As, even in Britain, the ground at the height of summer is often described as being "As hard as concrete" I, for one, would not want to play rugby on it.
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Are you bloody kiding? I think you forget how hot it can get over here in the summer. Players would be exhausted within 20 minutes! What a crap game that would make (rugby league!)
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Tried to play union on tour one summer ... .. we lasted for about 15 minutes.. the heat was too much and this was early in the summer.. (not helped by the fact we were charged for water by the tightfisted organisers!!!) if you're cold a bit of a run around warms you up and you are fine... being fair skinned and prone to going lobster red in the sun; collapsing with heat exhaustion is not my idea of fun! Give me muck and mud over sun anyday...
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Should rugby be played in the summer?
Definitely - by women wearing swimsuits.
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should rugby be played in the slammer?
why not?
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If the only way that we can compete with the like of South Africa and the Aussies is to play in the summer, If there is such an advantage by playing in these conditions....how come England ever managed to win the world cup?
We played on a snow covered pitch on Saturday that thawed and became a mud bath, it was fantastic, what grass roots rugby is all about. If the 'Big' clubs wish to only play when the sun is shining (like the league prima donnas)let em do so I say but leave the rest of us alone.
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If the only way that we can compete with the like of South Africa and the Aussies is to play in the summer, If there is such an advantage by playing in these conditions....how come England ever managed to win the world cup?
We played on a snow covered pitch on Saturday that thawed and became a mud bath, it was fantastic, what grass roots rugby is all about. If the 'Big' clubs wish to only play when the sun is shining (like the league prima donnas)let em do so I say but leave the rest of us alone.
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should rugby be played in the slammer?
i'm seeing a giant line out OVER THE FENCE!
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Just noticed this and did not notice anyone it seems pointed out touch rugby. I played it up to competition level back in the late 90's.
As for the heat...Deal with it.
Matt
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i think rugby should be played in the summer because then you wouldnt have to worry about mud you would just have to worry about grass stains and i mean lets face it, generally every outside sport gets grass stain and unless you have brown and green uniforms on, its litterally impossible to avoid...unless u walk and dont tackle each other but, its funny wen the other team is wearing all white and u tackle one of them in the mud and wen they get up the look on some of their faces is very funny.
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It might be a good idea but yes you will avoid the grass stains and the wet mud but thats part of the game. that what gives its atmosphere.
If we put it in the summer we need to think about the wether, the ground will be rock solid, and you will be cut an grazed just during training, Plus during the summer alot of rugby players and other sports players jopin in with the athletics to keep them selfs fit.
I know people will most proble give up athletics for Rugby but it keeps us bizy.
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I played rugby for several year when in school, university and afterwards.I always found hot weather far more difficult to cope with than the cold, rain and mud. If you are really working then you warm through anyway. If the game is played in summer then training would have to accommodate this and players would need to acclimatise. Our university coach was a fanatic and he would have us train for all conditions, and that meant doing runs in PVC waterprrofs under playing kit to healp us deal with the heat, and also he would have us roll in the mud then REVERSE our jerseys to get us used to carrying the weight of wet mud on and in our kit....Oh happy days...so why do we need seasons at all?
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