A new £7 million elite sports centre was officially opened in Ystrad Mynach yesterday, May 21.
The Caerphilly County Borough Centre for Sporting Excellence was opened by Wales coach Warren Gatland and Welsh Government Sports Minister John Griffiths AM on the site of the old Ystrad Mynach Hospital building.
It will be used as a training base by the Newport Gwent Dragons and Cardiff City Football Club could share use of the facility on weekdays.
Local community clubs will have use of the complex on evenings and weekends.
The centre hope to persuade the WRU to host age-grade rugby internationals at the complex, as well as acting as a host venue for visiting international rugby teams during future autumn internationals.
Caerphilly AM Jeff Cuthbert AM welcomed the centre for excellence, he said: “I was delighted to attend the official launch of this fantastic new sports facility in Ystrad Mynach.
“Its completion is a tribute to the hard work of the Labour-controlled Caerphilly Borough County Council and partner organisations such as the Welsh Rugby Union and I’m sure that it will be of great benefit to the local community, creating jobs for local people and becoming an asset for local sports groups.”