NRL’s Rabbitohs Centre of Excellence gets official opening

The NRL’s South Sydney Rabbitohs have celebrated the official opening of their new $25.7 million Centre of Excellence.

The Heffron Centre at Heffron Park is the new home for the Rabbitohs NRL and future NRLW teams as well as pathway participants, features high performance training and administration facilities as well as multipurpose community facilities to support the expansion of the club’s Souths Cares community programs.

Opened at a function yesterday evening and with a community opening celebration scheduled for 1st July, the facility was jointly funded by the NSW Government ($8.7 million), Federal Government ($10 million), South Sydney Rabbitohs ($4 million) and Randwick Council ($3 million).

Operating alongside a community sport and recreation centre managed by Belgravia Leisure, the Centre includes:

• Large strength and conditioning gyms

• Medical facilities and recovery spaces (such as hot and cold pools and a sauna)

• A multipurpose function room and team theatrette

• A playing field

• Administration spaces

• A merchandise store and café

The NSW Government has contributed funding to eight NSW-based NRL Centres of Excellence, including the Wests Tigers, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and Newcastle Knights, creating thousands of construction jobs and providing an economic boost to the NSW economy.

Speaking at the opening, NSW Premier, Chris Minns stated “the South Sydney Rabbitohs have rich history, winning the most premierships in the competition’s history thanks to names like Piggins, Sattler and Churchill, and are referred to as the Pride of the League. 

“While the Rabbitohs are having a great season and sit atop the NRL ladder, this new state-of-the-art high-performance Centre of Excellence will ensure the club’s reputation for producing  talented players in southern Sydney continues. This facility will assist the Club’s growing  premiership tally in years to come.”

“The NSW Government is committed to breaking down barriers in women’s sport and, importantly, the Rabbitohs Centre of Excellence will support female pathways and player development for the club’s future National Rugby League Women’s team.”

South Sydney Rabbitohs Chief Executive, Blake Solly added “the Centre is a game changer for both the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Souths Cares. 

“For the first time in our 115-year history, our football, administration and community arms are all under the one roof in our South Sydney heartland in Maroubra.”

“The Rabbitohs now have state-of-the-art facilities to not just create better footballers but also better people; and Souths Cares will be able to greatly increase the number of people that can help with their transformational community programs.”

“On behalf of everyone connected to the Rabbitohs and Souths Cares we thank all three levels of government in assisting us to develop this wonderful new home for the Club. I believe we have lived up to our commitment to build a centre the Club, the community and the three governments can be very proud of.”

Image: The Rabbitohs new $25.7 million Centre of Excellence. Credit: Bridge42.