Rugby Victoria and the Melbourne Rebels have welcomed today’s announcement by the Andrews Labor Government to provide $1.5M of funding to execute the next stage of planning for the Victorian State Rugby Centre at La Trobe University.
This announcement significantly advances the development of a new “home of rugby” on track for a December 2022 completion.
The new State Rugby Centre will be adjacent to a new home for Australia’s women’s football team, the Matildas, and provide a central training, playing and administration facility for our rugby programs including Pasifika and Quilt programs.
The project will be delivered in partnership with the State Government, La Trobe University, Rugby Victoria and Football Federation Victoria and will see the two sports – football and rugby – co-located at new facilities at the La Trobe University Sports Park.
The State Rugby Centre will provide Victoria with world class rugby training and education facilities, providing much needed infrastructure to support the ongoing development of local Victorian talented player pathways, competitions and community impact programs.
This includes a new home for the semi-professional Melbourne Rebels Super-W program, all underage Victorian representative teams and the Rugby Victoria Quilt Program.
The facility will also significantly benefit all of rugby in Australia through game development, community engagement and major event support. Victoria is proud of our state’s rich rugby history and the State Rugby Centre will be instrumental in supporting the next Jordan Uelese or Georgia Cormick representing the Wallabies or Wallaroos respectively.
Victoria stands ready to support Rugby Australia’s bid for the 2027 Rugby World Cup and the development of the State Rugby Centre will add to Victoria’s world class event infrastructure.
The facility provides an opportunity to host the world’s most elite international teams travelling to Melbourne in future years, including the British and Irish Lions in 2025.
“The creation of the Victorian State Rugby Centre at La Trobe University is a major milestone for the sport in our state. We are greatly appreciative of the State Government’s support announced today by Minister Pakula," said Melbourne Rebels Chairman and Rugby Victoria Director Paul Docherty.
“It will provide Victoria with a world class rugby training and education facility for our community and high profile visiting International teams that enhances our reputation as a global sporting capital.
“It will also underpin the continuing growth of our sport in Victoria and maximise its benefit to community and participants for decades to come.
“The Andrews’ Government has been great supporters of the Melbourne Rebels and, importantly, recognise the value of the central role the game plays in the lives of our Pacific Islander communities, who provide 68% of registered players in Victoria.
"Together with Rugby Victoria President, Neil Hay and the entire Rugby family, I can truly say that we are thrilled to have a dedicated home for our sport. A home for rugby in the ‘Sporting Capital’ that will directly support the wellbeing and aspirations of all participants."
“Since the inception of the Melbourne Rebels in 2011 we have been proud to partner with Rugby Victoria and deliver a 115% increase in Rugby participation over the last decade," added Melbourne Rebels CEO Baden Stephenson.
"A new home for Rugby in this great state will turbo-charge those efforts and we are looking forward to championing this project and creating a community-centric facility for the Victorian Rugby community to enjoy.
“The Melbourne Rebels are very fortunate to have established a strong partnership with La Trobe University in recent years. I’d like to thank the University, particularly Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar, for his support of all sport and his support of developing the La Trobe University Sports Park which will now host Victoria’s home of rugby in the very near future.”
Melbourne Rebels Player and Wallaby Jordan Uelese was particularly excited by the announcement.
“As someone who has progressed through the rugby pathway in Victoria all the way from playing juniors, seniors, academy teams, representing the Rebels and then having the honour of wearing the Wallaby jersey at a World Cup, I can see this new State Rugby Centre having a huge impact on our future in Victoria," stated Uelese.
“I feel so privileged to represent my home town every time I pull on the Rebels jersey and I am so proud of the the growing number of Melbourne talent that is coming through into our men’s and women’s Melbourne Rebels squads.
"Like me, there is a lot of young Pasifika talent playing rugby in Victoria and this facility will be a meeting place for our community and share our love of the game.
“I know personally that I feel a commitment to all the young kids playing in this state to wave the flag for rugby, to represent them and to show them that there is a pathway to the professional ranks. Today’s announcement is a massive step forward in supporting the continued success of that pathway and for all of Rugby in Victoria.”
