Rugby players and coaches are still having to clear dog mess before they play on their pitch.

Last February the Cornish Times reported that players of Saltash Rugby Club had to sweep their Chapel Field pitch for excrement before they could start their matches.

Almost a year on its players and coaches are still faced with the problem on a weekly basis.

The club's main pitch is at Moorlands Lane and the Chapel Field pitches are used mainly for the reserve and junior sides.

Club spokesman Nick Rich said: 'It is a regular duty of sports coaches to have to patrol the playing area to check for any deposits.

'On one recent occasion, one of the smaller marked out pitches had a total of four such deposits, which, to allow a game of rugby to go ahead, had to be removed, all because selfish dog owners cannot be bothered to pick up after their pets.

'There is clearly a real need for this area to be patrolled more regularly by the dog wardens. We would like to appeal to all dog owners to pick up after your dogs, there are plenty of bins available at the side of the field to enable the correct disposal, with some of the offending items having to be picked up just a few yards from a bin.'

A council spokeswoman said: 'Cornwall Council officers patrol all the playing fields in Saltash, usually on a weekly basis.

'We were there this week and found no dog fouling problems, the few dog walkers that were there all behaved responsibly, there are also the new sticker signs up in the areas in question.

'There has been no further contact from the rugby club to complain of any further issues.

'We would like to take this opportunity to remind dog owners that from July 16, 2010 Cornwall Council introduced a new dog fouling order that covers all of Cornwall. You are now required to clean up after your dog has fouled – and properly dispose of it.'