AN UNDERAGE rugby game in New Ross was dramatically interrupted at the weekend when a large mature beech tree fell onto a section of the pitch.

The incident occurred at around 1.10 p.m. on Saturday during an U-15 friendly match between New Ross and Arklow.

Significantly, New Ross had just scored and players from both teams had not long left the end-line of the pitch when a sudden gust of wind knocked the massive tree to the ground in that location.

If it had happened a few minutes earlier there would not doubt have been serious consequences due to the sheer size of the tree.

One person who was at the game said that players and spectators ran “in all directions” when they saw the tree falling.

The New Ross Rugby Club Chairman, Peter O’Brien, when contacted about the incident by The Echo, said it could have been a very serious situation.

“It was a big gust of wind that caught the tree and it fell out about 10 metres onto the pitch,” he said.

“New Ross had just scored so they [the players] weren’t long out of that area [when the tree fell],” he added.

That evening club members rallied together and cut the tree up for firewood.

“It’ll keep the clubhouse fire going for a good while anyway,” said Mr. O’Brien.

Mr. O’Brien also said the club will be getting a tree surgeon up to have a look at the other trees lining the pitch to make sure they are not in danger of falling.

“We’re confident enough it was just the high gust that caught it but the tree surgeon will confirm that for us,” he said.

“We might cut the other trees down anyway just to be on the safe side but we’ll see,” he added.

Thankfully, no-one was injured in the incident and the game resumed with the area around the tree cordoned off until the final whistle.