Cape Town Stadium boss reacts to 'turf troubles'
REACTION: The Cape Town Stadium management and the Stormers have found ‘common ground’ after the recent playing surface saga.
Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson did not mince his words earlier this month, after utility forward Adré Smith was hospitalised with an infected knee.
An apoplectic Dobson confirmed that the injury was caused by the disgraceful condition of the Cape Town Stadium pitch.
“We were promised a world-class pitch and we certainly don’t have one,” was the pointed statement of a dismayed Stormers boss, Dobson.
He added that the state of the stadium’s playing surface was a source of ‘enormous frustration’ for the Stormers management.
Smith, who came off the bench for the Stormers in the 13-8 win over the Bulls early this month, suffered a serious cut to his knee.
“There is no way to beat around the bush, or be polite about it,” Dobson said about the player’s injury, adding: “He split his knee and got an infection, where the field wasn’t adequately covered with grass.
“The doctors put it [the injury] directly down to the condition of the field.”
Stormers Rugby CEO Johan le Roux also described the playing surface as ‘absolutely sad’.
* (Article continues below the John Dobson interview ….)
It was the result of the World Supercross Championship being staged in the stadium on December 13, an event that destroyed the playing surface to an extent where it was clearly a danger to the players.
Gina Woodburn, the stadium CEO, confirmed to @JanDKrugby that they had met with the Stormers management.
“While the pitch is managed in accordance with the contractual framework between the Stormers and CTS [Cape Town Stadium], we appreciate the issues identified by Stormers Rugby with regards to the quality of the pitch, how this influences their game and, in particular, the concerns raised around player welfare,” Woodburn said.
“We have met with the management of Stormers Rugby, and we have both agreed to chart a way forward that sees continued engagement between ourselves to identify the best possible playing conditions for the team.
“As our anchor tenant, we value the Stormers playing their matches at the stadium and appreciate their feedback.
“We look forward to continuing to grow this relationship with Stormers Rugby through strong collaboration and to deliver a world-class stadium and pitch.”
@JanDKrugby
@rugby365com
