People in Aylesbury, Preston and Weston-super-Mare will be able to play rugby for £1 on new artificial grass pitches built by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

The three locations are the first to benefit from new facilities as part of the governing body’s £47m (US$58.2m, €54.4m) artificial grass pitch scheme, and to generate interest local communities are being given the chance to book an hour on the pitch for £1 (plus VAT) in January and February.

Another 22 sites are currently in the latter stages of feasibility testing, with work starting on 15 over the summer.

The RFU will be build and fund 60 artificial grass pitches over four years, and a further 40 part-funded sites with investment partners as part of its Rugby 365 programme.

England coach Eddie Jones attended the unveiling of the facility in Preston.

He said: “It’s been great to see the whole community come out in force to celebrate the launch and I hope to see clubs, schools and organisations all using and benefitting from this great facility.”

Ian Ritchie, chief executive of the RFU, added: “It is expected that each pitch will create between 1,500 and 2,000 hours of additional access to play per year.”

To read Sports Management’s interview with RFU development director Steve Grainger about the scheme, click here.