Let’s talk Hybrid Grass with Hamish Sutherland
HG Turf Group’s Managing Director gives us the lowdown on why Hybrid Grass is a great choice for football, the game we all love.
Tending the turf at the HG Turf Group farm, Alexandra, Victoria, Australia
Hamish Sutherland is the Managing Director of HG Turf Group, an Australian company with a global reputation for turf expertise: from home lawns to pioneering hybrid grass for the world’s best-known stadiums and sporting events. HG Turf’s journey in the sports turf market has been transformative, marked by great partnerships and the ability to innovate, with a team dedicated to providing top-quality sports turf solutions.
On where it all started…
HG Turf began in 1996 and diversified our turf production into the sports field market when we pioneered a hybrid lay-and-play turf at the MCG. A break-through for stadiums, who’s multipurpose event schedule required turf to be replaced between events.
Our big breakthrough came when we supplied the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, which included the Olympic Stadium (Stadium Australia) which hosted the men’s football final in front of 104,098 spectators, a record for football in Australia.
Stadium Australia
On the development of hybrid turf since Sydney 2000…
The product we installed for the Sydney Olympics was an early generation hybrid grass, with a small amount of artificial grass in the natural grass sod profile. Our goal then became to develop a way of incorporating the artificial grass further up in the natural grass, protecting it and giving it a higher level of durability, consistency and overall performance.
HERO Hybrid Grass: Eden Park Edition, New Zealand
We explored tufted and weaving methods and in 2014 partnered with GST Global in Korea to develop the perfect product, HERO Hybrid Grass. Knowing the turf challenges faced by stadiums, we leveraged GST Global’s manufacturing expertise and created a hybrid system that met agronomic standards and provided exceptional playability for all sports, including Football, Australian Rules Football, Cricket, Rugby Union and Rugby League.
HERO Hybrid Grass is a patented system and is now proving itself in FIFA World Cups and Rugby World Cups, and at some of the world’s top football clubs, including Real Madrid FC and Manchester City FC.
On leading innovation…
Australian Stadiums are among the most frequently used and multipurpose in the world – requiring us to foster innovation for product development.
Since our first installation of turf at the MCG, our hybrid grass system has evolved and is now third generation - HERO Hybrid Grass. The system is 95% natural grass and 5% artificial grass.
The evenly spaced artificial grass fibres protect the natural grass from wear, offering stability in the surface, whilst the open grid below anchors the fibres, promoting drainage and root development.
On the partnership between Sport Group/Polytan and HG Turf Group…
As we looked to further develop our product, we began to work with Polytex, Sport Group’s R&D headquarters based in Germany. Polytex is a recognised leader in fibre technology, including petroleum-free fibres (bio-based) and CO₂ neutral fibres.
To ensure compatibility between the selected fibre and natural grass, we embarked on extensive testing and R&D to find the best raw materials, shape and weight for unrivalled fibre performance and longevity.
Since 2016 we have installed numerous fields together and Sport Group’s fibre has undeniably enhanced the overall performance of our product.
“To be part of the Women’s World Cup is a huge achievement for our business and HERO Hybrid Grass. To create a World Cup pitch requires meticulous planning and a committed team of professionals from farm to stadium. To think the best women football players are playing on our grass, watched by billons is incredible. We look forward to seeing our grass in action at five of the competition venues across Australia and New Zealand, including Stadium Australia hosting the Final.”
On the future of hybrid turf…
Major football events like the World Cup have traditionally been played on natural grass, but FIFA recognise hybrid grass creates a superior playing surface. The artificial grass fibres add stability and durability to the playing surface, and they create consistency which improves ball bounce, ball roll and player footing. All are important attributes for players whose skilful touches create the ‘beautiful game’.
As football continues to thrive in Australia, New Zealand and beyond, hybrid grass presents a significant opportunity for all levels of football, not only stadiums. Aspiring clubs who wish to improve their playing and training facilities see value in hybrid grass.
Whilst hybrid grass is widely used in Australia, New Zealand, UK and Europe, it’s relatively new in Asia and the Americas where interest in football is growing.
It’s also important to consider the end-of-life consequences of hybrid grass, when one considers we are adding artificial grass to natural grass. Hybrid grass is a sustainable solution, with the materials being separated and recycled, or otherwise repurposed at the end of their useful life.
On enhancing the player and fan experience…
Creating the perfect playing surface elevates the standard of play and creates an unforgettable spectacle for the spectators.
We’ve seen this recently during the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup, where all matches were played on hybrid grass. As a result players skills were second to none and the matches where of epic proportions. Generations of football players witnessed the beautiful game like never before and aspired to greatness themselves.
The field must be flawless for players to create their magic and the grass is at the heart of it. Embracing hybrid grass, football competitions raise the bar, for players and audiences alike and hybrid grass pitches have become the gold standard.
On the most rewarding moments of his career…
Innovating and providing solutions that work and meet the needs of our clients in Australia and New Zealand and then taking that technology internationally is hugely rewarding.
Working with a team of employees and partners who have a passion for innovating and finding a better solution, and bringing that solution to life for all to enjoy and benefit from, is very satisfying.
Working collaboratively with Sport Group, Polytex and Polytan, and seeing our grass at international tournaments such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Women’s World Cup and Rugby World Cups, is very gratifying.
HG Turf Group harvest team
Our HERO Hybrid Grass being used at the Women’s World Cup in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland and Wellington in front of a global audience over July and August, will be quite something.
In preparation for the Women’s World Cup, teaming up with Polytan to deliver the football pitches for the new State Football Centres in Victoria and Western Australia, to support elite, community and grass roots football, is a great legacy for the game.
On developing the game from the ground up…
It’s encouraging to play a part in developing the game from the ground up. One of the great legacies of the Women’s World Cup are these new high-performance state football facilities. At the elite level the Matildas and national teams will train on them, but juniors at all levels will also train on them. It’s incredibly exciting to be part of something so far-reaching.