Waratahs and NSW Rugby confirm site for new centre of excellence

NSW Rugby has secured a location for its planned centre of excellence and headquarters having last month signing a heads of agreement with UNSW to develop the facility at the University-owned David Phillips Field in the Sydney Eastern Suburbs.

The location, where it is currently based in demountable offices, will see the development of facilities for the Waratahs and the NSW Rugby Union that are expected to last “three decades”.

Having secured a $20 million grant from the NSW Government in 2018 to back the development, NSW Rugby has since looked at multiple locations to build its headquarters before reaching its decision.

The development will include an extra floor added to the UNSW’s existing facilities at the site, to include a gym and training facilities, cafe, function spaces, meeting areas, shared offices and upgraded playing areas.

Local newspaper the Southern Courier reported that the agreement spans in excess of 30 years for the centre of excellence to be built and operated at the site.

Commenting on the site, NSW Rugby interim Chief Executive Philip Van Schalkwyk stated “we assessed a range of locations for the centre of excellence and our current home at David Phillips Sports Complex was comfortably the most suitable for the needs of rugby in NSW.

“There’s been a significant body of work undertaken to get to this point and the NSWRU board is extremely pleased with the outcome.”

NSW Rugby plans to appoint an architect this month who will work with project management company Ontoit and Bayside Council to prepare a development application.

It is proposed the centre of excellence will “service rugby around the state” and be used by all levels of rugby rather than simply the Waratahs.

Van Schalkwyk added “basing ourselves here will allow us to best implement our vision for this facility in servicing not only the Waratahs but the entire game in our state.

“Once completed, the new centre of excellence will add significant value to the broader community thanks to its multipurpose nature that will include a charity hub and cafe accessible to the public.”

Astrolabe Park which neighbours David Phillips Sports Complex in Daceyville was also earmarked for a new major sporting precinct in 2018 - backed by Cricket NSW, AFL NSW and UNSW - but those plans have since been withdrawn with Bayside Council.

Image: The concept for NSW Rugby’s planned centre of excellence at the David Phillips Sports Complex.