Newport Gwent Dragons is pleased to announce it has entered into a partnership with the Caerphilly County Borough Centre for Sporting Excellence for it to serve as its regional base for training and for junior development matches, commencing next season.
Situated in Ystrad Mynach, the brand new centre was officially opened today by the Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Cllr Keith Reynolds and Minister for Culture and Sport, John Griffiths AM.
Children from primary schools across the county borough became the first to try out the two impressive new 3G pitches, taking part in football and tag rugby tournaments while guests, including Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland, toured the impressive new building and the surrounding grounds.
“Today marks another hugely exciting milestone moment for Newport Gwent Dragons,” said Gareth Davies, Chief Executive Officer for Newport Gwent Dragons. “The new state of the art facilities at the Caerphilly County Borough Centre for Sporting Excellence offers not only a fantastic base for our coaching staff and squad, but will provide a first class opportunity for equipping our academy players with the tools they need become the future stars of Welsh rugby.”
The new flagship facility is set to provide a first class training venue for elite and flourishing rugby and football players to develop their strength and skills using the commanding conditioning suite and the two international standard 3G pitches.
The Dragons will use the facility as its regional base for training and for junior development matches, while Cardiff City FC and the Welsh Rugby Union regional development academies and age grade teams also plan to utilise the grounds. Students from Coleg y Cymoedd will also have access to the facilities and community clubs will have access to the 3G pitches on a priority booking basis, based on strict criteria from the Welsh Rugby Union and the Welsh Football Trust.
Cllr Dave Poole, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services, commented, “The Caerphilly County Borough Centre for Sporting Excellence has changed the landscape of Ystrad Mynach and will provide a top class facility for elite athletes and promising young talent to hone and develop their skills in both rugby and football. The investment we have made in developing this facility will support high performance but will also allow some community clubs the opportunity to use facilities that they have only dreamed of.”
The development of the Caerphilly County Borough Centre for Sporting Excellence has been supported by Sport Wales, Welsh Government, the Welsh Rugby Union and the Welsh Football Trust.
Don't forget, Early Bird season tickets are now available to purchase from the Newport Gwent Dragons ticket hotline. The discount will run until June 30th 2014, and you can grab an adult season ticket from as little as £99 or £10 for under 16s. For more information, please call the Ticket Office on 01633 674990 or click here.
