Crossword Genius

Rugby player on the foreign pitch (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

propel

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'pitch' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with contact as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'rugby player on the foreign' is the wordplay.
'rugby player' becomes 'prop' (I've seen this before).
'on' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'the foreign' becomes 'el' ('the' in Spanish).
'prop'+'el'='PROPEL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for propel that I've seen before include "Drive or push forward as with oars" , "Push forwards" , "Drive forwards" , "Give impetus to" , "Cause to move forward with force" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times (Crosaire) and The Irish Times.
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