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Construction on the Home of the Matildas will begin in December and be completed before the Sam Kerr led Australian host the world s best on home soil in two years.
The multifaceted complex located at La Trobe University s Bundoora Sports Park in Melbourne s north will also boast Football Victoria s high-performance program and its administration base plus a new rugby centre.
The federal government had already committed $15m towards the project while Victoria s state government set aside $101.1m in its budget for the soccer hub which will include a marquee pitch with grandstand seating, four other pitches, a gymnasium and wet recovery area, medical and rehabilitation centre, meeting areas and a player lounge.
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New state Centre of Excellence a game-changer for Victorian rugby
Acting Premier, the Hon. James Merlino MP, today announced the single largest investment ever made in Victorian Rugby, which will deliver a new State Rugby Centre of Excellence at La Trobe University in Bundoora, serving all participants in the sport from community to elite levels.
Melbourne Rebels Chair and Rugby Victoria Director Paul Docherty said that Rugby in the state was now ready to scale new heights and vastly expand its successful community and high-performance programs through this massive game-changing investment by the Andrews Government.
“In 133 years, Victorian Rugby has never had such a wonderful opportunity to grow the game and share its benefits with all Victorians. We are thrilled with the State Government’s unprecedented commitment to the sport, which recognises Victorian Rugby’s proven capacity to positIvely impact our community,” Docherty said.
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The Waratahs will have competition for the top coaching talent in Australia after Rebels coach Dave Wessels stood down.
Wessels, who was off contract at the end of this year, told Rebels players of his decision on Friday morning.
Dave Wessels has stepped down at the Rebels after a disappointing Super Rugby AU campaign.
Credit:Melbourne Rebels
The
Herald reported last week that unless the Rebels made a Super Rugby AU final, Wessels’ position was in serious jeopardy, with the board agitating for change.
The Rebels beat the Waratahs in their final match of the season – to give Wessels an overall win record of 44 per cent from four seasons - but missed out on the top three following the Western Force’s upset win over the Queensland Reds.