CANADA’S RUGBY TEAMS GETTING BIG UPGRADE TO TRAINING FACILITIES

from TSN:

LANGFORD, B.C. — Canada’s national rugby teams are getting a new home.

Rugby Canada announced Wednesday that the Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence, a multi-million dollar complex, will be built in the Victoria suburb of Langford. The facility will be the home of Canada’s men’s and women’s 15s and sevens teams.

“It’s a huge step forward for rugby when we see communities wanting to attract us as a sport,” men’s captain Pat Riordan said. “Langford is a progressive city and a sports community is a great identity for them. From the players’ perspective it’s great, it sounds like it will be well tailored to us.”

The facility is being built on the site of the existing City Centre Park, a $25-million facility that has two modern training fields, along with additional dry-land training and community activity sport centre.

The first phase of upgrades will include 4,500-plus square-foot administrative offices, as well as a new strength and conditioning centre and medical facility. The upgrades are scheduled to be completed shortly after the return of Canada’s World Cup squad from New Zealand in October.

A second phase will include a residence capable of hosting 70 athletes adjacent to the Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence. Construction of the residence is to begin January 2013.