The Welsh Rugby Union has issued safety guidance to community clubs after Wales’s exceptionally hot, dry summer left many rugby pitches hard and potentially hazardous. It matters because hard, uneven or sparsely grassed surfaces could increase players’ risk of injury as the new season begins.

Wales recorded a 35.9C high in Cardiff on 24 June, its hottest day on record, while July was the driest for 190 years. Clubs are advised to assess cracks, holes, grass cover, hard contact areas and shock absorbency; fixtures may be rearranged without sanction until mid-September, and referees can overrule decisions on safety grounds. The guidance remains in place until 13 September, when the WRU plans an update.