Sportsground Pitch Covered With Straw
Connacht Rugby are taking every precaution possible to ensure this Friday’s Amlin Challenge Cup Pool 1 showdown with Harlequins goes ahead as scheduled at the Sportsground (kick-off 7pm).
With temperatures set to plummet again this week, the grounds committee have taken the step of covering the Sportsground playing surface with straw to stave off the frost.
Last season’s interprovincial match between Connacht and Leinster in early January was called off due to severe weather.
Connacht’s recent Magners League clash with Aironi Rugby was called off two weeks ago due to the dangerous travelling conditions, coupled with a frozen pitch.
The straw was generously donated by Turloughmore farmer JP Shaughnessy and his sons John and Paul, after a similar trial at Munster’s Thomond Park proved successful last week.
The 80 bales of straw were spread across the pitch by members of local rugby club OLBC, who share the Sportsground with Connacht, and will be rebaled later in the week after the worst of the weather has passed.
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