National Stadium field first-of-its-kind in Asia, promises high-level sporting action

The National Stadium at Kallang is the first competitive venue in Asia to adopt the Desso GrassMaster system, allowing it to host football, rugby, cricket, athletics and entertainment events seamlessly on its all-natural grass pitch.

Officials said the increasingly-popular system, also used at London's iconic Wembley Stadium and other world-class venues, offers stability and reinforcement to ensure a uniform, visually attractive surface that can be converted for different sporting uses in minimal turnaround time.

"From day one, we want to ensure that the National Stadium pitch is globally accepted as elite and does not compromise players' safety," said Alexander Collot d'Escury, chief executive of Desso, which have installed 600 such pitches across the globe.

Two specially-designed 'stitching' machines - which were recently used at Sao Paulo's Arena Corinthians that will host the opening World Cup match - inject the National Stadium grass with artificial fibres 18cm deep, every two cm across the field.

The fibres solidify the roots system, minimizing the risk of divots and players slipping unintentionally.

The field at the new 55,000-capacity National Stadium is expected to be in playing condition by the first week of June - in time for the opening rugby World Club 10s tournament from June 21 to 22.

Singapore Rugby Union president Low Teo Ping said: "I've been following the progress of the pitch to date, and it's certainly looking very good.

"The World Club 10s will be the first real test event as Desso surface promises a high standard of play for rugby as well as other sports."

National Stadium

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