{
  "id": 14215160,
  "title": "Louis Rees-Zammit calls for ban on artificial pitches: ‘Someone do something’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/louis-rees-zammit-calls-for-ban-on-artificial-pitches-someone-do",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-13T14:09:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/louis-rees-zammit-calls-ban-140956283.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bristol Bears winger Louis Rees-Zammit has called for a ban on artificial pitches in rugby following a graphic Instagram post revealing his injuries sustained during a game against Saracens. The wing player posted a picture showing severe friction burns down his right leg, urging for action to be taken regarding the use of Astroturf pitches. Rees-Zammit emphasized the need for immediate intervention, stating, \"Can we please stop playing on these Astroturf pitches! Someone do something about it!!\"\n\nBristol Bears coach Pat Lam acknowledged that he had rested Pedro Rubiolo, AJ MacGinty, and Steven Luatua as a precautionary measure due to their significant injuries from the previous season. The coach had also expressed concerns about the pitch at Newcastle's Kingston Park following their visit last season. The Premier Rugby clubs of Saracens, Newcastle, and Gloucester are the only teams in the Premiership that utilize artificial surfaces, with the north London club being the first to install theirs in 2013, which was upgraded in 2017.",
  "summary": "Rees-Zammit’s legs suffered severe friction burns during Bristol’s defeat to Saracens",
  "key_points": [
    "Louis Rees-Zammit posts graphic injuries on Instagram.",
    "Calls for ban on artificial rugby pitches.",
    "Bristol Bears coach Pat Lam also expresses concerns."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "End use of artificial pitches - Rees-Zammit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/end-use-of-artificial-pitches-rees-zammit",
        "published": "2026-10-13T10:13:53.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}