Australian Football League team the Western Bulldogs will train at the Queenstown Events Centre next month, and the Romanian, Irish and English rugby teams will follow suit next September.
Lakes Leisure events and facilities manager JD Marrable said the events centre was increasingly popular as a training venue for international sports teams looking for top-notch training grounds, a fully equipped health and fitness centre and an aquatic centre in one location.
The Western Bulldogs AFL team will attend a pre-season "adventure camp" from Sunday to Thursday next week, using the centre's fitness facilities and enjoying other resort thrills in their free time.
"Team management was very impressed with what we had to offer them in terms of training facilities and being located in Queenstown clinched the deal," Mr Marrable said.
AFL fans are welcome to watch the Bulldogs in action on the events centre oval.
When not training, the 45 football players and their management team will be taking part in resort activities, including jet-boating, white-water rafting, golf and a hangi.
"Training is obviously their first priority, but they are really keen to get out and enjoy themselves while they are here," Mr Marrable said.
Next September, the Queenstown Events Centre will host a training camp for the English, Irish and Romanian rugby teams, as part of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
On Saturday night, Romania beat Uruguay 39-12, and earned the final 2011 RWC qualification spot. It qualifies as the 20th and final team and enters Pool B alongside Argentina, England, Georgia and Scotland.
Confirmation of the play-off winner brings to an end the qualification rounds for RWC 2011, which involved 184 matches and 80 nations across five continents.
Mr Marrable said officials from the Romanian rugby team will visit the events centre in February for a tour of the facilities, and to make preparations for training.
The Irish rugby team will train at the centre from September 2 to 7, followed by Romania (September 11 to 14) and England (September 19 to 21).
The 2011 RWC takes place across New Zealand from September 9 to October 23.
