by Nigel Melville
Nigel Melville Direct
It was a pleasure last weekend to spend time with the Indiana State Based Youth Rugby Organization as they unveiled their plans to build a 27 acre rugby facility just 2 miles from downtown Indianapolis, a facility that will support not only rugby, but the community as a whole. The proposed Twin Aires Rugby Complex consists of a 27 acre site that will become the home to 4 full size fields, clubhouse, locker rooms, community center, water park, walks and fitness trails. Last Saturday unveiling the plan at their annual fundraiser, it became clear that this is now no longer a dream – the land has being secured thanks to the support of Citizens Gas, in their 125th year, this project will become one of their community projects in 2012. The fundraising has commenced and it is hoped that they can break ground by the turn of the year. The whole complex once completed will cost in the region of $3.2m.
Probably the most exciting opportunity for the project is that there will be 18 High Schools within a 2 mile radius of the Twin Aires Complex, only two currently have outdoor sports facilities and only one has a rugby club, a massive opportunity to grow the game.
This is obviously fantastic news and I was delighted to visit the site and meet everyone involved in the project. Of course, securing the land is just the first step, if anyone would like to show their support to the project in anyway, post a comment and I will connect you with the project leaders.
Congratulations to the whole rugby community for getting behind this project from stalwarts like Harry Laws to the Youth Rugby leadership team headed by Michelle Leroux, I will keep you updated with progress. The fundraising dinner on the Saturday night certainly kicked things off in style, well done to you all.
With an impressive resume as player, coach and administrator, Nigel David Melville took over as CEO and President of Rugby Operations of USA Rugby, the National Governing Body of the sport in America, in 2006. In addition to his full time job promoting the sport in the U.S., Melville has launched his own blog, Nigel Melville Direct, to further the discussion and his passion for what it will take to make the U.S. a great rugby playing nation.
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