diff --git a/.github/renovate.json5 b/.github/renovate.json5
index 08badf8cea69..59dbdf2cffeb 100644
--- a/.github/renovate.json5
+++ b/.github/renovate.json5
@@ -43,6 +43,14 @@
       ignoreUnstable: false,
       allowedVersions: '!/\\-SNAPSHOT$/',
     },
+    {
+      // currently using gradle plugin org.playframework.play 3.1.0 milestone releases
+      // but don't want to pick up SNAPSHOT releases
+      matchPackageNames: [
+        'org.playframework.play:**',
+      ],
+      allowedVersions: '!/\\-SNAPSHOT$/',
+    },
     {
       groupName: 'quarkus packages',
       matchPackageNames: [