Rugby synthetic turf pitch in a mountainous region of France

Francis Cazenavette, mayor of Argelès-Gazost (in the French Pyrenees), and the City Council inaugurated on September 22, 2012, the new sports field with synthetic grass in the presence of M. Camou, president of the French Rugby Federation.

Argelès-Gazost has since then benefited from that rugby synthetic turf field, on which today all practices and games of the town clubs take place.

It is also used by schools and other local sport associations. This excessive use of the former natural grass pitch did not allow the upkeep of a lawn in good condition. The first rains, combined to the overcrowding, transformed the turf into a dangerous muddy surface. It therefore became essential that Argelès acquires new equipment that could provide a greater use by installing a synthetic grass pitch with high security standards.

The transaction to build this synthetic grass field amounted to € 776,000. The total amount of subsidies allocated for this project was € 387,734.

In this region of the south-west of France, rugby is the number one sport and it deserved a pitch of great quality to serve the needs of the many rugby teams based in the town of Argelès-Gazost and nearby. Moreover, the town is based in a mountainous area, which makes snow highly likely in the winter months and also highly likely to damage a natural grass pitch for several weeks. Therefore, a synthetic turf pitch was the perfect solution to keep playing rugby all year round.