The NSWRL is pleased to announce an exciting new partnership with the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) which will expose grassroots players to the high-performance sporting facilities around Bruce Oval that had formerly been home to the Canberra Raiders.
NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden was joined by ACT Minister for Sport and Recreation Yvette Berry, Canberra Chief Executive Don Furner, Canberra captain Jarrod Croker and other officials for the announcement today (12 February) at Bruce Oval.
Trodden said the NSWRL, which is responsible for more than 100,000 registered grassroots Rugby League participants across NSW and ACT, was thrilled with the new partnership. It will enable the continued use of the high-performance Bruce Oval sporting precinct for local and regional sporting teams in the Canberra area.
“It is a great outcome for the local sporting community to be able to have access to sporting facility that was until recently the home of the successful Canberra Raiders NRL team,” Trodden said.
“Most importantly, it ensures people in regional NSW have access to the same standard of high-performance facilities that people in metropolitan Sydney have.”
(pictured above left to right, Canberra Region and Community Rugby League General Manager Mark Vergano, Canberra Junior Rugby League Chairman Gary Green and NSWRL Zone Manager - Greater Western and Greater Southern David Skinner)
Minister Berry said the agreement between CIT and NSWRL was designed to support grassroots sporting teams.
“Bruce Oval will now give local Canberra teams a home ground to play on, while also ensuring teams from regional NSW have access to a high-performance training facility,” Minister Berry said.
“Canberrans have a great passion for sport and are really connected with their local sporting teams, so it is vital we support participation at all levels of sport and provide facilities for the community to come together.
“We aim to inspire the next generation of sportspeople and nurture talent and sporting excellence in our community.”
Canberra, who made the NRL Grand Final in 2019 and the Preliminary Final last year, had trained at Bruce Oval since 1999 but has now shifted to a new high-performance centre in Braddon.
The Bruce Oval sporting precinct includes a cricket-sized oval, a fully equipped gym, two sets of changerooms, office space and meeting rooms.
Belconnen Sharks senior club and representative teams from Monaro have already indicated they will use it and it will also be home to a Disability Trust program for Score Raiders, which teaches participants the skills and fundamentals of touch football.
There have also been 14 bookings for holiday clinics and gala days for both Primary and Secondary schools as well as coach and sports trainer education workshops.
“It’s wonderful to see this facility remaining in rugby league and in control of the NSWRL which is a vital part of rugby league in this region,” Furner said.
“This will allow participants of the game at all levels the opportunity to access a high-quality facility. The Raiders would like to take the opportunity to thank both the NSWRL and the ACT Government in their continued investment into rugby league in this region.”
