A State Rugby Centre of Excellence is a crucial step in the continued development of Rugby in Victoria.

The Centre, which will deliver world-class facilities for the sport and community, will become the vibrant heart of the sport for all participants, connecting the whole game in Victoria.  

Specifically, the Victorian State Rugby Centre of Excellence:

• Will provide two dedicated rugby fields – one with spectator facilities, as well as a shared multi-use field serving both rugby and AFL.

• Will provide Victoria with vital infrastructure to support the ongoing development of local Victorian talented player pathways and community impact programs.

• Will host World-class high-performance rugby training and education facilities will include a new home for the semi-professional Melbourne Rebels Super-W program, all underage Victorian representative teams, academies, and the Rugby Victoria Pasifika Program.

• Will deliver gender-equitable facilities including change rooms for players and referees, as well as match day amenities, a high-performance gymnasium and analysis rooms, sport science, medical and recovery facilities, and office and meeting space for Rugby Victoria’s administration.

The development directly integrates with La Trobe University’s leading sports education courses and programs, providing new facilities for learning and research.

The new home for Rugby forms part of the Victorian Government’s $101 million investment in the La Trobe University Sports Park Stage Three Project, which also includes the Home of the Matildas. Importantly, the project is supporting around 600 jobs during construction.

The early works package was completed at the end of 2022, followed by the completion of the pitches and the Centre of Excellence building which is set to be complete in late 2023. The facility is expected to be ready for action in 2024!