WORK on the Rodney Parade pitch began today with the Welsh Rugby Union promising that “flooding will be a thing of the past” and that the playing surface will be “stable and consistent.”

The WRU officially completed its takeover of the Dragons on June 27 and has taken control of the ground shared with Newport RFC and Newport County AFC as part of the deal.

The Union believes the improvements to the drainage and irrigation and the new hybrid surface, which will incorporate natural grass and artificial fibres, will avoid a repeat of the problems of recent seasons.

Three County fixtures were abandoned or postponed at Rodney Parade during the 2016-2017 season and the pitch was considered the worst in the English Football League.

Newport RFC also saw matches postponed and the Dragons were affected by drainage issues as well.

The new pitch will not be playable for another seven weeks and County will not play at home until the visit of Chesterfield on Saturday, August 26.

Newport RFC are likely to host Cardiff the following day and the Dragons' first home match will be in September.

In a statement issued to the Argus, the WRU said: “Work started today on the new pitch at Rodney Parade, as promised to Dragons supporters and Newport Rugby Club shareholders alike as part of the Welsh Rugby Union’s successful bid to assume control of the region in May.

“The new ‘Desso Playmaster’ surface will be playable by August 26, with a new drainage and irrigation system – installed alongside a 3G artificial pitch surround – ensuring an uninterrupted fixture list for all three teams accommodated at the venue.

“The first stage of the installation process, overseen by Hewitt Sportsturf, the company which installed the Principality Stadium’s hybrid surface, is to remove the current playing surface in its entirety.

“Next the irrigation and drainage systems will be repaired and replaced, before a new root zone and top soil is introduced, then a carpet which contains both live grass and artificial fibres is rolled out.

“The installation will then be left untouched as root growth sets in, before it is ready for the Dragons, Newport Rugby Club, Newport County and their players and supporters to enjoy.”

South Wales Argus:

Principality Stadium manager Mark Williams, who has been part of the WRU consultation group tasked with improving the Rodney Parade facility, is confident the work will be a success.

“Flooding at Rodney Parade will be a thing of the past and the playing surface will be stable and consistent and fit for purpose,” he said.

“We are using the same company who installed the pitch at Principality Stadium and they will also be providing training to all Rodney Parade ground staff on maintenance of the new system over the next few weeks, alongside our own head groundsman Lee Evans.

“The Rodney Parade solution is similar to that which we have at Principality Stadium and to the surfaces at Liberty Stadium and Cardiff City Stadium, although it does come with its own unique and well publicised set of circumstances with three teams sharing it throughout the season.

“It may not always be ‘picture perfect’ but what you get with this system is the security that the pitch will be playable all year round and free from the kind of problems which have threatened fixtures in the past.”