Capras’ teams to play first games at Rockhampton’s Rugby Park on April 7

With work to start on the Rockhampton’s historic home of rugby league, Capras CEO Peter White has locked in a ‘quality playing venue’ for the next two years with QRL CEO Ben Ikin weighing in on the announcement.

The CQ Capras will play their home games at Rugby Park while Browne Park is being redeveloped.

Rockhampton’s Rugby Park has been confirmed as the alternative venue for CQ Capras’ home games for 2024 and 2025.

The ground in Normanby St, The Range, will host up to 24 Capras’ games while the long-awaited $54 million redevelopment of Browne Park is undertaken.

The project at the city’s historic home of rugby league has had a number of false starts since plans were first announced and funding was committed in September 2020.

Work on Stage 1, which includes a new contemporary three-tier grandstand with expanded capacity to seat 3500 patrons, change rooms, broadcast facilities and offices, is scheduled to start next month and be finished by mid-2025.

The CQ Capras will call Rugby Park home in 2024 and 2025.

The Rockhampton Grammar School owns the buildings at Rugby Park but leases the field areas from the Rockhampton Regional Council.

Grammar headmaster Dr Phillip Moulds joined Capras’ CEO Peter White to make the announcement this morning.

Dr Moulds said the Department of Tourism and Sport would provide funding to upgrade lighting at Rugby Park from 100 lux to 200 lux, significantly improving night-time playing conditions.

“This enhancement will not only elevate the venue’s functionality but also underscore its importance as a leading sporting venue in Rockhampton, offering extended opportunities for training, matches and events.”

The Capras’ men, women and under-21s will play their first games at Rugby Park on Sunday, April 7.

Queensland Rugby League CEO Ben Ikin has welcomed the news about Rugby Park being the alternative home venue for the Capras. Picture: Kevin Farmer

QRL chief executive officer Ben Ikin said the QRL was excited to see the Capras and Rockhampton Grammar team up to ensure sub-elite rugby league had a home while Browne Park was being redeveloped.

“Our statewide clubs across regional Queensland are heavily reliant on support from local businesses and institutions, and this is another example of how two organisations can work together to achieve an outcome that will provide great benefits to the broader community,” he said.

Mr White echoed those sentiments.

“It is great to know that we have locked in a quality playing venue for the next two years while Browne Park is out of action,” he said.

The Capras men and women played their last games at Browne Park on March 16.

See who we snapped in the crowd on that historic day in our gallery.