Nematodes no match for garlic at Murrayfield
Scottish Rugby continues to monitor carefully the international pitch at Murrayfield Stadium. The playing surface at the home of Scottish Rugby has been regarded with justifiable pride for many years; therefore its current condition is a matter of understandable concern.
The national union for Scotland appreciates the esteem in which Murrayfield is held and how inspiring it is for many young Scots to be able to fulfil their childhood ambitions of playing on the international pitch.
This season, however, a parasitic infection, which affected the roots of the reseeded grass pitch, coupled with the wintry weather, has placed considerable stress on the playing surface, in spite of the tireless work of the Murrayfield groundstaff.
The latest testing of the pitch shows that the problem with the parasite, Nematodes, is now "manageable" and that the treatment being used to eliminate the worm - which includes spraying the ptich with garlic, then plant sugars to stimulate growth - is beginning to take effect.
Longer-term Scottish Rugby is considering a number of potential solutions to return the pitch to its much-lauded status.
Remaining committed to Murrayfield being the most widely-accessible international rugby ground in the northern hemisphere, Scotland are doing everything they can to support the efforts of our groundstaff to ensure the pitch is in sufficiently robust health to host our two home fixtures in the 2014 Six Nations Championship - the Calcutta Cup game against England on Saturday 8 February; and our meeting with France on Saturday 8 March.
