Rugby union sees light to expand

Rugby

Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union is pushing for the installation of lights at its Memorial Park headquarters.

In a submission to the Masterton District Council's draft annual plan this week, WBRU asked the council to fully fund the lights and the reconfiguration of fence lines and footpaths.

Chief executive officer Tony Hargood said lights would increase the capacity of night rugby to appeal to the wider community and provide the ability to host clubs, colleges and JAB rugby on week nights, predominantly from Wednesdays to Fridays.

It would also provide the ability for the union to host major club and representative games in the evening, thereby creating an opportunity to better engage the rugby and sporting community.

Hargood also noted the provision of lights would provide a central location for all representative teams to train and work together and would enhance a facility which was in urgent need of an upgrade. It was also possible that other sporting codes, such as football, would be able to utilise Memorial Park for night games.

The WBRU also wants the Masterton District Council to fund a feasibility study which would look at the redevelopment of the park as a sporting and business hub which the the WBRU would manage.

Hargood said the current and traditional business model for the WBRU (and most other Heartland unions) was heavily reliant on grants and sponsorship and neither of those two income streams was guaranteed.

He said the proposed redevelopment would therefore give the opportunity to explore different models and formats which would secure future and more sustainable income streams while improving the training and game day facilities for the union.