NSW and Federal Governments commit funding for world-class development centre for Australian Rugby

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) is to develop a world-class training facility in Sydney's North West following a $20 million funding commitment NSW and Federal Governments.

The Australian Rugby Development Centre will transform the TG Millner Field in Marsfield into a high performance sport centre and training facility for Australia's national rugby teams including the Qantas Wallabies and will act as the Olympic base for Australia's Men's and Women's Sevens teams.

It will also feature the Ella Brothers Indigenous Education Centre, which will enable the ARU and Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team (LMRDT) to connect more young Indigenous men and women with training and scholarship opportunities.

Announcing the development, ARU Chief Executive Bill Pulver explained that it will be the first time Australian rugby has owned a truly world-class training facility.

Pulver stated "the Australian Rugby Development Centre will help our elite players compete at the highest levels internationally.

"It will allow us to extend our work with the LMRDT and Indigenous community and it will also provide an opportunity for the whole Rugby and broader community to access a new community sporting facility.

"We're a sport that involves more than 300,000 boys, girls, men and women nationally, and it's great to see our involvement in local communities and the importance of our national teams recognised to help us create a truly world-class training and community facility.

"The Australian Rugby Development Centre will use the existing footprint at TG Millner and will retain the character of the existing Eastwood Rugby Club and other existing on- site services."

The Australian Rugby Development Centre will feature an indoor pool, gym, IT and analysis centre, altitude training room and onsite accommodation and will also act as a base for visiting school, regional and international teams.

Pulver added "importantly, it will be a community facility, providing access to medical and allied health facilities and access to a world-class health and fitness facility.

"The on-site childcare centre will also remain, and all facilities will be available for use by other sports and community groups."

Eastwood Rugby joined the ARU in welcoming the commitment to fund the Centre.

Eastwood Rugby President Brett Papworth, in a joint statement with Peter Robinson, Chairman of Vimiera Recreation Grounds Ltd (the owner of complex) added "we are excited about our partnership with the ARU which would see the Centre located at TG Millner, the home of Eastwood Rugby.

"This announcement not only gives the ARU an outstanding base from which to develop the game but it also secures the long term future of Eastwood Rugby.

"This announcement also allows us to pay tribute to the visionaries who built the amazing TG Millner complex."

The Federal Coalition has pledged to provide $10 million in funding towards the project if elected at the upcoming Federal Election while the NSW Government has committed an additional $10 million. The ARU will provide $5 million towards the project.

The NSW Government's matching of the Federal Coalition's commitment is subject to receiving a final costed business plan, and the Federal Government confirming its commitment following the election on 7th September. 

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