Watch: Munster Rugby officially open 'game changer' Centre of Excellence in Cork

“I think everyone who came (to the official opening) has been really impressed with what we've delivered," said chief executive Ian Flanagan.

GAME CHANGER: Munster Branch President Sean Loftus, Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport Charlie McConalogue, Munster CEO Ian Flanagan, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Lord Mayor of Cork Fergal Dennehy. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne.

Munster Rugby believe their new €7.3 million Cork Centre of Excellence will be a game changer for underage rugby in the province and establish a new pipeline for future first-team professional players.

An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD officially opened what Munster Rugby described as a key strategic objective at their Virgin Media Park stadium on Cork’s southside on Saturday with Minister of State with Responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue TD also in attendance after the province availed of a €2.7m grant from the Government’s Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).

The facility, also made possible by a financial contribution from the IRFU, includes a indoor rugby dome covering 50x40m training pitch, a 2500 sq ft gym and permanent offices for administrative staff, including chief executive Ian Flanagan, who signalled the positive impact the Cork Centre of Excellence could have for Munster Rugby.

“We're all delighted,” Flanagan said. “I think everyone who came (to the official opening) has been really impressed with what we've delivered.

“It's a lot of money for a rugby club to deliver, €7.3m, and I think we've got value out of every euro that's been spent. I think it's a fabulous facility to have in the province.

“As the Taoiseach said, the first indoor rugby facility in the province. Now, there's obviously a few more scattered around, but it will, we believe, be a game changer for us in terms of younger players, boys, girls, clubs and schools, and grassroots usage of the facility.

“The booking slots are already filling up in terms of people wanting to come and see it, play five-a-side football here, whatever they want to use it for. It's a great addition to Cork, first and foremost.”

The primary benefit will be to Munster Rugby’s domestic game infrastructure, significantly the province’s National Training Squad players, its boys and girls age-grade programmes and player pathway programme, with the intention of eventually supplying more local players into the senior men’s and women’s teams.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

“I'll be clear, this isn't for the pro game,” Flanagan said. “You're not going to see any of the starting 15 (playing Cardiff) tonight training here in normal circumstances. This is purely designed for a grassroots game.

“You'll have all the Munster age-grade squads training, being coached here. We had some under-12s in yesterday doing scrum practice with Stephen Archer and that's fabulous to see.

“But obviously you're talking about long-term projects then. So this really is all about the future. And it may take a few years for that to filter into our academy and for players who've been coached here to start making appearances in the red shirt. But it absolutely will happen.”