BOSS Dean Ryan claims he has not seen the new state-of-the-art playing surface Worcester Warriors will be having at Sixways next season.

The synthetic pitch will be installed at the end of the campaign in a move Ryan described as “a commercial decision” by the club.

Warriors will be the first Aviva Premiership outfit to convert to the latest generation of artificial grass pitch ahead of next season.

While Saracens and Newcastle Falcons have switched to synthetic, Warriors will be the first in the UK to feature an organic infill rather than rubber crumb.

The new turf, which will cost Warriors a significant six-figure fee, allows more use for the club’s elite, academy and community rugby sections as well as hosting events.

“I think the artificial surface is a commercial decision which is about utilising the ground at a time when where we’re not using it and that’s about it,” said Ryan, Warriors’ director of rugby.

“If it raises finances to put the club on a more secure footing then fine.

“It’s part of the progress of the game. But it’s very much a commercial decision to get full utilisation out of the stadium.

“Those are the reasons it is being done and let’s see how much the club can utilise it.”

The pitch will be produced by Italian specialists Limonta Sport and is expected to offer players a consistently high-quality surface all year and in all weather conditions.

Ryan admitted: “I don’t think there’s anybody we would or wouldn’t sign because of an artificial surface.

“We have not had any problems with the synthetic surface we’ve got as a training surface or the times we’ve played on it.

“I think it does influence the way the game is played but how much I am yet to find out.

“We have only played on it once and we trained for that specific game but it definitely has its differences.”

Asked whether he preferred a traditional grass surface for rugby, Ryan said: “I am not sure what traditional grass is now.

“Most of the international pitches have got plastic of some sort in them.

“A surface with consistency is something you can only ask for.

“I have not seen the new surface they are talking about so I have yet to see what it is.”