After moving out of the PGG Wrightson building in Evans St and spending time temporarily operating out of the Celtic Sports Club in Craigie Ave, the staff packed into the Fraser Park pavilion last Friday — Monday being their first official day in the new space.
South Canterbury Rugby chief executive Tim Hyde-Smith said it was an exciting time for the team.
"It’s absolutely fantastic. I think they’ve been out of the park now for three and a-half years. A lot of the staff have been here longer than me.
"We’re really excited to come back home and get back to our roots.
"While it is only a temporary code of compliance at the moment, we’re just waiting for the rest of the park to finish, which will be before the 14th of September for the home game against North Otago."
It would be very beneficial to have the South Canterbury Rugby office at Fraser Park once again, he said.
"I think it will give us an opportunity now to connect back up and have more on-field activity going on.
"We’ve got two which are at Pleasant Point against Wairarapa Bush on August 24 and another in Geraldine on September 7 against King Country.
"We can’t thank the clubs enough for that support over the last couple of years."
The office space is now fully operational and is advertised as open from 8am to 3pm, despite Mr Hyde-Smith calling the opening hours "just a guideline".
"We’re usually here from seven in the morning till about seven at night, but it’s fully operational and open for business."
He appreciated the community for getting them to this point.
"I just want to thank the community and also all the wonderful sponsors and people who have donated. It’s been massive.
"A big thanks also to all the trusts and local businesses for ... getting behind this project, not only for now but the next 20-30 years. We couldn’t have done it without them.
"It’s been a massive effort by everybody and we’re excited now to deliver and be operational."
