According to reports from New Zealand, a rugby pitch in Port Chalmers is being repeatedly invaded by eight feral geese who are grazing their way across the playing fields, eating a large volume of grass and damaging the surface - while "defecating copiously".

Harbour Rugby Club chairman Lance Spence is fed up, describing their presence to local paper Otago Daily Times as a ‘‘massive problem''.

‘‘During rugby season we are having to clean up the pitch before every senior home game,'' Mr Spence said.

‘‘The guys who put the ropes up for the games are having to go out and pick up goose faeces by the bucketful.''

The local paper reports that they visited the ground on a Tuesday, following the pitch being cleared for a Saturday fixture, only to find an "astounding" volume of faeces on the pitch!

Mr Spence said goose faeces could contain salmonella and one player had suffered a bad infection last season.

The Harbour Rugby Club has alerted the local Dunedin City Council and is calling for urgent action.

It's reported that council staff had visited Watson Park to assess the situation, acknowledged there was a problem, and were working on potential solutions.

These could include attempting to relocate the flock - which could be challenging because geese often return - scaring the geese away with a sonic boom, or a possible cull.

‘‘We are seeking appropriate advice on what to do with them,'' said Hamish Black, a spokesman for the council.