PLAYERS and officials from Broughton Park will be celebrating the opening of their new '2.5m clubhouse and grounds which will also be used as a centre of excellence for developing rugby talent in the region.

It marks the culmination of over 10 years' work and Rugby Football Union President Malcolm Phillips will be the guest of honour next Saturday. (AUG 21st)

Rugby officials say it will be used to help nurture young rugby players and develop the next generation of Jason Robinsons.

This top-class facility is the result of a successful partnership between Manchester City Council, the Rugby Football Union, Greater Manchester Police and the club.

The building will become a centre for rugby youth development with local schools, colleges and universities able to use the club.

The recently appointed RFU strategic manager for the city council, Phil Clarke, will be based there and will be on hand to co-ordinate training, games and fitness programmes for all who attend.

The new site is only a quarter of a mile away from the previous club and is located at Hough End playing fields.

It will boast a floodlit competition pitch, a floodlit training pitch, three additional full-sized rugby pitches, an all-weather pitch - which doubles up as a five-a-side football facility, a clubhouse and spectator stand.

The total project, costing around '2.5m, has been funded mainly from the sale of the club's previous site and it received '128,863 from the RFU's Community Club Development Programme, which is an innovative collaboration between Government - the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Sport England and the RFU.

Following the opening ceremony, a reception will take place in the new clubhouse and then Broughton Park will play the Sale Jets XV - the academy team for Sale Sharks.

Mr Clarke said: "It is our job to encourage young people into the sport and to provide them with a facility to inspire them. This move is monumental for Manchester and will see a return to grass-roots rugby.

Bill Seddon, chair of development at the centre, said: "Young people will be rewarded with some of the best coaching, training and playing facilities in the country.

"The huge efforts which are being made to attract and train the youngsters from local schools and universities can only be good for the club, for rugby and for the local community."

Coun Mark Hackett, executive member for culture and leisure, said: "The move is part of the city council's ongoing commitment to providing top class facilities for playing rugby.

"Working alongside our partners, the city council is leading the way with this development and creating wider opportunities for rugby and sports in general."