nope they are still playing on grass at Watford if they move to Barnet they want to install an I pitch.

I reckon other clubs will be closely monitoring how this goes at Widnes and if it is a success then there may be a few more playing on this surface in the not to distant future.

There is one installed at the Saints training facility for all weather training so I doubt it would affect us very much. However i'm sure there are plenty in the country if clubs get twitchy about them having an advantage.

Is there really? The one Widnes are getting is a £600,000 monster. I can't imagine Saints spending that on a pitch for a training ground?

Yep

[urlhttp://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/st-helens/2011/07/09/john-lawless-st-helens-new-cowley-training-ground-is-impressive-100252-29020874/[/url

That's 3G not the same

Yup. Ours is 3g, Widnes' is going to be an iPitch.

Can someone explain where the 'i' comes from. Intelligent? In what way is the pitch intelligent?

The same according to this article.

[urlhttp://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/2011/08/11/groundbreaking-widnes-vikings-take-leap-forward-with-a-plastic-pitch-92534-29216326/[/url

Have they anywhere explained WHY they're doing this? Genuine question.

Here you go mate.

[urlhttp://www.widnesvikings.co.uk/article.php?id=5601[/url

bet the current groundsman and his team are well happy about losing thier jobs!!

It's possible they will be retrained into maintaining the iPitch? From what I've read it needs regular maintenance.