Rising rugby league stars set to shine at new $20 million High Performance Centre

Wednesday 18 October 2017 11:17am

Ministerial media release

Hundreds of promising rugby league players, along with established champions of the game are set to benefit, with construction underway on the New South Wales Rugby League Centre of Excellence at Sydney Olympic Park.

NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres was today joined by NSWRL Chairman Dr George Peponis, CEO David Trodden,  NRL Legend Brad Fittler and Jillaroo Kezie Apps to lay the Foundation Stone for the high-performance facility.

“This Centre of Excellence will provide a massive boost for rugby league in New South Wales,” Mr Ayres said.

“Sport hubs of this calibre will help drive growth and development of players of all abilities - from grassroots to the elite level.”

The NSWRL Centre of Excellence will feature a full-sized training field, gymnasium, player recovery facilities and a lecture theatre, as well as a new building for specialised support and the offices of the NSWRL. The University of New England will also base its’ sport, research and exercise facilities at the new complex.

“The centre is a welcome addition to a thriving sports precinct at Sydney Olympic Park, to be built right across from ANZ Stadium,” Mr Ayres said.

Dr Peponis said: “The NSWRL Centre of Excellence will be one of the most sophisticated high-performance facilities of any sport in Australia.”

“It will be a state-of-the-art facility which aims to ensure the future success of Rugby League in NSW. Everyone in the NSWRL family will benefit from being able to use the facility, as well as the specialist sports grounds in the precinct.”

The NSWRL Centre of Excellence is funded by the NSW Government and the National Rugby League. It is scheduled to open in late 2018.