NSW Rugby reveals plans for $20 million Centre of Excellence

NSW Rugby has announced plans for a new $20 million Centre of Excellence with construction to start next year.

The NSW Government will front the $20 million investment to provide facilities for not just the Waratahs, but it will be the central ‘hub’ for all community rugby in the state of NSW, including a home to charity partner the NSW Positive Rugby Foundation, and possibly others.

Announcing the development, NSW Rugby Chief Executive Andrew Hore advised “we have been working towards this goal for a long time and to have this investment confirmed today is a massive boost for what we are looking to achieve.

“Our goal is to create a home for the whole of the game, from our administrators, charity partners, rugby supporters, members and our NSW representative teams.

“While there will be an element of high performance to continue to produce the best male and female rugby talent in Australia at all levels, this facility represents the communities that make up our game.”

To be located in the Sydney suburb of Daceyville, the new headquarters has been described as the “first step” in a much bigger plan for Rugby in NSW, with Western Sydney also a major focus.

Hore added “the longer-term plan is to have hubs of rugby around the city and the state, this is stage one of a bigger plan for rugby.

“We have already started talking to the Minister about western Sydney.

“The Positive Rugby Foundation, one of their coterie arms will be to grow investment into western Sydney.

“On top of that, the NSW Rugby element we are already talking to the State Government and the strategy department in and around bringing in cultural populations and people who are new to Australia, and offering them opportunities through rugby to be involved in Australian society.

“Rugby has a whole plan for western Sydney that we are looking to enact, and we have started on that path.”

Construction of the Centre of Excellence is expected to start late next year.