Victoria State Rugby League and Community Centre opens

The next generation of rugby league stars in Victoria, Australia, have a new home advantage with the completion of the new State Rugby League and Community Centre helping more players have their shot at sporting stardom.

The new world-class venue at Seabrook Reserve in Broadmeadows will be the new home for Melbourne Storm’s elite female development pathways, NRL Victoria and its youth development squads, and Touch Victoria – backing players and teams from grassroots to elite levels.

The centre also features three new turf pitches, a pavilion with female friendly change rooms, a half pitch for touch rugby, high performance training facilities, medical facilities, match day amenities, a kitchen, and meeting and administration rooms, including space for community groups to meet.

These facilities will also be used by local sports organisations and clubs including the Northern Thunder to ensure more grassroots clubs have the best facilities and infrastructure to support rugby league’s growth in Victoria.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said:

Thanks to the support of the Victorian Government, Hume City Council and Melbourne Storm, not only will this facility turbo charge the development of young Victorians dreaming of wearing an NRL or NRLW jersey, it will also establish a state-of-the-art facility for the local community.

Melbourne Storm CEO Justin Rodski said the continued growth of rugby league locally and introduction of new Melbourne Storm pathways programs for female and male players is exciting for the game in Victoria. He said:

With the support of the Victorian Government and Hume City Council, we hope to see more local players wearing the Storm jersey in years to come.

The Victorian Government has invested $14.3 million into the project and more than $1 million in the wider Seabrook Reserve precinct for the whole community to enjoy. The project was also supported by Hume City Council, NRL and the Melbourne  Storm.

Sports Venue Business has launched a raft of new offerings under the SVB LIVE banner, including Networking Events and a Webinar Series. The 2024 SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition is being held at Croke Park on October 9th and 10th, with an Opening Night Icebreaker on October 8th. The SVB LIVE Expert Council is helping to shape the year-round content.