SAINTS REJOICE AFTER NEW HOME GETS GO AHEAD
17 June 2009

(By Griffith Thomas, The Reporter)

It’s official.

The Logan City Rugby Union Club will finally have a new place to call home. Last week the State Government delivered its promised $1.5 million for the first stage of the Griffith University Sports Field Development plan.

The purpose built rugby facility at the university’s Logan campus in Meadowbrook, which will be shared with touch football, will include a two storey clubhouse, three fields, competition standard lighting, covered grandstands and a kiosk.

The State Government recently approved the final stage of the Queensland Government’s Major Facilities Program funding, which will be matched by Logan City Council to complete the $3 million first stage of the $5.7 million total project.

After five years of campaigning to relocate from Homestead Park, the Saints’ new premises will cater for their bulging playing stocks and relieve the stress at their Daisy Hill home, where their under-6s to under-9s will continue to play.

Saints chairman, Peter Tisdall, said it was a major boost for rugby union in the region and the club would be the envy of all established Brisbane Premier Rugby clubs.

“The club is thrilled by the news and I think it’ll provide the impetus for our push to make rugby in Logan one of the leading codes,” he said. “The club has been limited in the last few years in terms of development at Homestead Park simply because we’ve always had the prospect of moving in the near future.”

State Member for Springwood, Barbara Stone, said the new facility would not only benefit the rugby club, but also allow the Springwood Suns Cricket Club to expand.

“Logan City Rugby Union Club has had a growing membership and the current fields and facilities at Homestead Park are now unable to cope with the demand, they are bursting at the seams,” she said. “This outcome will also allow for more space at Homestead Park for the Springwood Suns Cricket Club to expand and cater for their growing membership.”

The facility is expected to be ready for the Saints to move in by the end of 2010. The news is also a huge shot in the arm for the Saints’ aspirations of moving up to the Premier Rugby competition in the near future.

BRIGHT FUTURE: Some of the Logan City Rugby Saints under-9 team are looking forward to the prospect of moving to Meadowbrook. Pictured are Benjamin Lyons, Ryan Dry, Destiny Bishop, Peter Evalu and Kyle Hunter.

< BACK TO NEWS ARCHIVE >