The Wallabies are set to finally have a permanent home once again, with the ARU unveiling plans for an Australian Rugby Development Centre (ARDC) at Moore Park.
Created with the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust (SCGT) and University of Technology Sydney (UTS), in partnership with the Australian Government and NSW State Government, the ARDC will be far more than just training fields and a theatre for reviewing games.
Rather, the centre is set to house laboratories for UTS’s top sports scientists and students, as well as training facilities for rugby’s best athletes – both men and women.
“The ARDC will greatly enhance the sustainability and success of Australian rugby,” said ARU CEO Bill Pulver. “It provides a new home for Australian rugby in a terrific sporting precinct.”
“Co-locating with UTS will provide exceptional benefits and enable us to develop better high-performance environments for our Qantas Wallabies, Wallaroos, Qantas men’s and women’s sevens teams, and junior representative teams.
“The ARDC will also have a strong connection to the wider rugby community and the local community. It will feature a cafe, rugby museum and multiple rooms available for community use.”
An artist’s impression of the Australian Rugby Development Centre (ARDC) at Moore Park.
More than just a home for the top junior and senior sides, the ARDC will also act as headquarters for Indigenous and grassroots development.
“The development of a world-class sporting, education and community hub confirms the future of rugby and UTS at Moore Park,” SCGT Chief Executive Jamie Barkley said.
“The precinct is home to all NSW Waratahs home games, the Sydney Sevens and one Wallabies Test per year. When the Wallabies take on England in June, Allianz Stadium will host its third rugby sell-out of the year.
“We’re also delighted to have one of Australia’s most innovative universities on board. UTS students have already started attending classes in the precinct and they will transition to the ARDC in 2018, creating a dynamic space that promotes a combined culture of sport and education.”
The centre will be located at the northern end of the members’ car park, facing Moore Park Road. Construction is set to begin by the end of May, with completion expected in 2017.
AJ
Guest
Exactly Bakkies, this is like de ja vu. Should Shorten win, he would almost be obliged to sink the boot in. You can hear the howls from Townsville. I'm surprised this hasn't been used against Turnbull already.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
They may still be but they either recently have or are planning a move to Moore Park which is supposed to reduce lease costs I believe.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Too political for mine... but a perfect segue to the original topic here :)
RobC
Roar Guru
Manchurian Candidate, perhaps
RobC
Roar Guru
Wait for the next Gov grant and ARU strategy :)
Lester
Guest
No i don't, it's a massive waste of money considering half of the olympic sports are unpopular and funding them at the olympic level achieves nothing but a ranking in a global pissing contest. The only thing the government should be funding is at the grassroots level with money allocated based on participation levels. Wasting money on something dumb like Olympic Archery or Shooting when kids are playing footy on dustbowls doesn't make sense to me.
Bakkies
Guest
Lets hope it doesn't get knocked back after approval like the Ballymore facility. As soon as Dudd got in it was off the table
Bakkies
Guest
I thought the ARU is based in St Leonards
Machooka
Roar Guru
Is tripping the new guise for the renaissance man??
Machooka
Roar Guru
Outstanding suggestion...when?
RobC
Roar Guru
Is the squirrel a marsupial?
RobC
Roar Guru
I think the Barossa will be more attractive to many
RobC
Roar Guru
twice the fun MrChook! Toads and Roaches will have a common enemy!!!!
RobC
Roar Guru
Yeah, Allanthus. Moore Park is a goood location. If ARU retains the asset, that $20M will be $40M or more in no time. re Gov terms, I dont think the Gov will be happy to pour $5M or more to finance operations of FOR REB TAHs RED or anyone else.
Machooka
Roar Guru
That'd be some nuts eh?
RobC
Roar Guru
I sometimes think squirrel is RedKev in disguise
rebel
Guest
Yeah, so exclusive that the NRL headquarters are right next door.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Where do you suggest they locate it Squirrel?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
For Moorabbin the AFL and St Kilda are funding $5M each. Kingston Council has pledged $5M. The state has pledged $8M. Though I've read this is now $12M. There's an additional $3M provided by somebody else. So that's $26M total. $5M from the club. $5M from the AFL.
Chris
Guest
Struggling to link this, but the Northern District Times reported on 11/12/13 that the ARU's contribution to the TG Millner development would be $5m out of $25m build cost. The article is available online. Contrast this to some recent and proposed developments in Melbourne: St Kilda FC upgrading Moorabin Oval $25m-$30m Essendon FC at Tullamarine $30m Hawthorn FC at Dingley planning to spend $40m -$60m but that includes an MCG replica field, Etihad replica field, half size field, soccer pitch and 50m arc field and is on 28Ha with room for expansion (to digress slightly, Hawthorn have almost 2/3rds the revenue of the ARU at around $70m, with less than $10m of that coming from the AFL's TV money. They also sit on double the assets, less liability and are banking $3.5m in profits a year - gives some perspective on where rugby sits relative to the AFL). Based on that I think the total figure around $25m-$30m is probably accurate.