From battling the British weather to preparing pitches for match day, volunteer groundskeepers are the backbone of grassroots rugby. Now, a partnership between STIGA and England Rugby is helping lighten their workload.
Every weekend, thousands of rugby players across England run out onto pitches prepared by people whose names rarely appear on the teamsheet. Long before the first whistle, volunteer groundskeepers have been mowing, marking lines, repairing worn turf and doing everything possible to make sure the surface is ready for action.
It’s a demanding job, particularly when clubs have limited resources, unpredictable weather and pitches used for everything from junior training to senior fixtures. At Manchester Rugby Club, more than 400 members use facilities that include four full-size pitches and additional training areas. Keeping everything playable falls to a dedicated team of volunteers.
But two recent additions to the grounds team have transformed their working week. Affectionately named Mow Marler and Cutney Lawns, the club’s STIGA autonomous robotic mowers arrived in October 2024. “Their work ethic has been incredible!” says Tim Holmes of Manchester Rugby Club. “They operate day and night, seven days a week, and we saw an instant improvement in the quality of the pitches.”
The robots maintain two pitches, including the main stadium and a floodlit training pitch, cutting each twice weekly during the growing season. Previously, mowing and clearing grass cuttings took volunteers approximately seven-and-a-half hours each week. That time can now be spent on other essential jobs, including slitting and verti-draining. And there’s another advantage when the weather turns.
“The biggest difference is when the ground is wet or soft, and we couldn’t use the tractor to cut the pitches,” explains Holmes. “The mowers being so light allows for constant cutting without any damage to the surface.” At Carlisle Rugby Club, founded in 1873, groundskeeper Bill Glendinning faces a similarly demanding task maintaining 3.25 hectares, including senior and junior pitches.
STIGA robots are now saving approximately three hours of mowing time per pitch each week during peak growing season, while reducing diesel use.
“They have undoubtedly saved us time,” says Glendinning. “So far, it’s a win-win situation for both the club and me.” Meanwhile, at volunteer-run Colerne Rugby Club, two STIGA A 3000 mowers, Eddie and Hutch, have impressed members with their neat finish and improved grass density.
“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,” says Jeremy Dicks.
Through its multi-year partnership with England Rugby, STIGA is helping clubs reduce routine groundskeeping demands while supporting the volunteers who make grassroots rugby possible. The robots might get the attention, but it’s the people behind the pitches who remain the real stars.
Find out more about the STIGA and England Rugby partnership and how clubs can get involved.
