STIGA’s newest grounds team members are making a big impression at Colerne Rugby Club.
Keeping a rugby pitch in top condition is no small task...especially when your grounds team is made up entirely of volunteers.
That’s where STIGA is lending a helping hand. STIGA has been delivering innovative groundcare solutions to rugby clubs across England, with its multi-year partnership with England Rugby reflecting a commitment to supporting volunteers and grounds teams and helping maintain high-quality playing surfaces, from grassroots clubs right through to the elite level.
As part of the partnership, STIGA is rolling out equipment to clubs and sports facilities nationwide, helping keep pitches and green spaces across the country looking their best.
One of those clubs is Colerne Rugby Club, a grassroots club run entirely by volunteers. And, thanks to two new additions to the team, the volunteers can now spend a little less time mowing and a lot more time getting on with everything else that needs doing around the club.
Colerne Rugby Club installed two STIGA A 3000 robotic mowers to take care of the pitch. At first, there were understandably a few nerves. Could two robots really handle the size of the pitch? Would they cut effectively? And, perhaps most importantly, could they be trusted to behave themselves?
The answer, according to Jeremy Dicks of Colerne Rugby Club, has been a resounding yes.
The two mowers are programmed to cut for two hours every other night, and the results have been impressive...producing a fantastic finish, beautifully straight lines and noticeably thicker grass.
And the club has even given them names. Meet Eddie and Hutch, named after two stalwart Colerne Rugby Club members who previously spent their time cutting the grass. It’s fair to say their replacements have some big boots...or should that be wheels?...to fill.
Jeremy said: “We were anxious at first about whether they could manage the space and the cutting, but they have been a huge success. They are scheduled for two hours of cutting every other night and leave a fantastic finish, with straight lines, while the grass density has thickened.”
The difference hasn’t gone unnoticed either. “Our supporters have commented on how good the pitch looks,” Jeremy added.
Getting Eddie and Hutch up and running was also surprisingly straightforward.
“Downloading and setting up the app was straightforward,” said Jeremy. “It was easy to set up the scheduled mowing area to ensure it did not affect our training schedules and pitch usage.”
And while Eddie and Hutch get on with their nightly duties, the volunteers can concentrate on other jobs around the club.
“We can now spend time on maintenance jobs for the club and only need to strim around the fencing, without worrying about cutting the pitch.”
So, while Eddie and Hutch might not be able to make a tackle, score a try or put the kettle on in the clubhouse just yet, they’re already proving to be valuable members of the Colerne team.
Read more about the STIGA partnership with England Rugby, here:
www.stiga.com/uk/stiga-x-rfu
