The South Sydney Rabbitohs have celebrated the official opening of their new $25.7 million Centre of Excellence at a function yesterday evening.
The facility, located at the new Heffron Centre at Heffron Park, will be home to the Rabbitohs NRL and future NRLW teams as well as pathway participants, featuring high performance training and administration facilities as well as multipurpose community facilities to support the expansion of the club's Souths Cares community programs. The Centre of Excellence was jointly funded by the NSW Government ($8.7 million), Federal Government ($10 million), South Sydney Rabbitohs ($4 million) and Randwick Council ($3 million).
The Centre includes:
- large strength and conditioning gyms
- medical facilities and recovery spaces (such as hot and cold pools and a sauna)
- a multipurpose function room and team theatrette
- a playing field
- administration spaces
- a merchandise store and café
The NSW Government has contributed funding to eight NSW-based NRL Centres of Excellence, including the Wests Tigers, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and Newcastle Knights, creating thousands of construction jobs and providing an economic boost to the NSW economy.
Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese said:
"This Centre of Excellence will provide a base for the Men's and Women's teams to deliver the next chapter in South Sydney's proud history."
"Just as important will be its contribution to the community programs that are so important to the inclusive culture that Souths have developed."
NSW Premier Chris Minns said:
"The South Sydney Rabbitohs have rich history, winning the most premierships in the competition's history thanks to names like Piggins, Sattler and Churchill, and are referred to as the Pride of the League."
"While the Rabbitohs are having a great season and sit atop the NRL ladder, this new state-of-the-art high-performance Centre of Excellence will ensure the club's reputation for producing talented players in southern Sydney continues. This facility will assist the Club's growing premiership tally in years to come."
"The NSW Government is committed to breaking down barriers in women's sport and, importantly, the Rabbitohs Centre of Excellence will support female pathways and player development for the club's future National Rugby League Women's team."
Minister For Sport Steve Kamper said:
"The NSW Government's NRL Centres of Excellence Program will deliver world-class high-performance training, administration and community facilities to foster even greater rugby league talent."
"The Rabbitohs connection with their local community is second to-none and this facility will aid will facilitate the delivery of Souths Cares programs to the benefit of all sections of the community and strengthen their bond with passionate fans of the game."
South Sydney Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly said:
"The USANA Rabbitohs Centre is a game changer for both the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Souths Cares."
"For the first time in our 115-year history, our football, administration and community arms are all under the one roof in our South Sydney heartland in Maroubra."
"The Rabbitohs now have state-of-the-art facilities to not just create better footballers but also better people; and Souths Cares will be able to greatly increase the number of people that can help with their transformational community programs."
"On behalf of everyone connected to the Rabbitohs and Souths Cares we thank all three levels of government in assisting us to develop this wonderful new home for the Club. I believe we have lived up to our commitment to build a centre the Club, the community and the three governments can be very proud of."
Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker said:
"Bringing the Rabbitohs to Maroubra has been the culmination of 10 years hard work and our community could not be happier."
"Working in partnership, we have delivered an exceptional centre for elite sport and a home for Rabbitohs charitable arm Souths Cares to continue their incredible work delivering direct social assistance and positive role modelling in our area."
"On top of this, the Centre of Excellence was a key driver behind the development of the entire Heffron Centre complex that includes a new community indoor sports centre and a dedicated dance and gymnastics space."
