RB Head of Development and Performance Mark Egan, is quick to acknowledge the fact that the Samoan Rugby has been going through an impressive 12 months.
We are now about to see the icing on the cake.
The construction of the Union's gound-breaking High Performance Facility will commence mid December at Faleata with a special ceremony attended by the Prime Minister of Samoa and SRU Chairman, Hon. Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi.
Everything the Samoan rugby players would wish for will be included in the state-of-the-art facility. It will feature a High Performance gym, recovery and rehabilitation centre, four new training pitches, accommodation for up to 90 athletes and a dedicated administration centre for SRU staff. Construction is expected to be completed well ahead of Samoa's Rugby World Cup preparation camp in August 2011.
The start of construction represents an important milestone for the SRU High Performance Programme, which is underwritten by International Rugby Board funding through strategic investments aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the global Game.
The IRB has contributed over GBP 1million to the project, which has been made possible through the donation of 36 hectares of land at the Faleata Sports Complex by the Samoan Government.
Egan said, "Samoa's high performance progress has been significant over the past year with IRB Sevens World Series and ANZ Pacific Nations Cup titles achieved and an impressive set of results during the recent November Tests."
"In that regard, it is fitting that the facility will be ready for the Manu Samoa's Rugby World Cup 2011 preparation camp next August and we are delighted to be partnering with the Samoa Rugby Union on this important project which we hope will elevate the SRU High Performance Programme to a new level."
"Of course, this project would not have been possible without the significant support of the Samoan Government, and on behalf of the IRB I would like to extend our gratitude to the Prime Minister and his Government for the donation of land on which this impressive facility is being constructed," added Egan.
Rugby is the national sport in Samoa and as excitement builds with the start of the 2010/11 HSBC Sevens World Series this month and Rugby World Cup 2011 less than nine months away, the SRU High Performance Facility is central to the Union's Sevens and Rugby World Cup 2011 aspirations.
Chairman of the Samoa Rugby Union, the Hon. Tuilaepa is excited about the potential of the new facilities to enhance the capacity of Samoa's Rugby performance at the regional and international level.
"The contribution and support accorded by IRB towards the elite development of Rugby in Samoa is acknowledged with deep gratitude," said Tuilaepa.
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