Stefan Lewis, an experienced player for the Sharks team, has gained enough rugby experience in South Africa and Europe to clearly understand the differences between various playing surfaces. This veteran, who plays as a lock, strongly advocates for the use of lush green grass instead of synthetic materials.
On Friday evening, Lewis will once again face artificial turf during the United Rugby Championship match between Sharks and Cardiff, which will take place at Arms Park stadium. Lewis stated: 'I prefer grass!' He previously spent seven seasons with English Premiership club Harlequins before returning to the Sharks at the beginning of this year.
He added that the need to introduce an age limit for 4G fields was discussed, noting: 'The older you get, the harder it gets!' Lewis's opinion resonates widely among rugby professionals, as concerns about artificial surfaces have become more pronounced following a series of injury incidents in England.
Recently, Welsh winger Rhys Zammit called for the abandonment of artificial pitches after leaving the Bristol Bears versus Saracens match with a significantly scraped right leg. He posted a photo of the injury on social media, demanding action against what he termed 'astroturf pitches.'
Bristol's rugby director, Pat Lam, also expressed concern regarding the surface at Saracens' StoneX Stadium. He reported that he excluded three key players from the matchday squad due to potential risks. Pedro Rubiola, A. J. McGinty, and Steven Luatwa recently returned from serious injuries, and Lam deemed the risk unjustified.
Lewis does not argue that artificial pitches should be completely rejected, ignoring practical aspects. With years of experience in English rugby, he understands why clubs are increasingly turning to synthetic surfaces. British weather can make maintaining natural grass expensive and labor-intensive, especially for teams playing matches throughout the winter.
'I am not a big fan. I like grass. I think that's how it should be in professional sport,' Lewis said, but conceded: 'But that's what is there. You can't change it. Both teams play on the same surface.'
The former South African national player, who won one Test captaincy, believes this discussion goes beyond personal preference, as the focus is on athlete well-being. He noted: 'I think most players would say they don't like them, because of injuries.'
However, he also acknowledged that there are understandable reasons in Britain related to weather and the huge financial costs for clubs that have grass, as the pitch requires complete renovation every year. 'So I think it's much more than just my opinion that I don't like it. There are reasons for the pitch, and the biggest ones are weather and finance,' Lewis emphasized. He concluded that it is extremely difficult to find a player who would prefer to play on 4G rather than grass.
Saracens responded to the criticism by defending their pitch, insisting that it meets all necessary certification, maintenance, and safety requirements. The club states that the pitch holds a valid World Rugby Regulation 22 certificate until April 2028 and undergoes a strict maintenance program.
For Lewis, physical demands are becoming more noticeable as his career nears its end, a career that took him from Durban to English rugby and back. The lock returned to the Sharks colors for the first time in seven years, featuring in a match that ended in a 39-22 URC defeat against the Stormers in Cape Town. Following this, he played in a winning Challenge Cup Sharks match with a score of 40-33 against Lyon in France, demonstrating the value of his experience for the Durban team.
Highlighting the changes with age, he said: 'The older you get, the harder it gets. I don't think that's a secret.' He added that he enjoys returning to the Sharks, noting that some things have remained the same while others have changed drastically, and perhaps the main change is that he is older, making it difficult to keep pace with younger players.