Where CQ Capras, Rockhampton Rugby League will play opening games

The Rockhampton rugby league facility will undergo a multi-million dollar revamp. With no start date yet known, read what it means for the start of the Capras and Rocky Rugby League seasons.

CQ Capras CEO Peter White talks about the latest update on the Browne Park redevelopment.

Rockhampton’s Browne Park will be in play for the CQ Capras and regional football teams until at least the end of April.

The venue, which has been the home of rugby league in the city for more than 100 years, is set to undergo a major revamp.

While work was initially slated to begin in November last year, a new start date is not yet known, with a statement from the office of Tourism, Innovation and Sport Minister Sterling Hinchliffe saying “work is set to commence this year”.

Browne Park has been the home of rugby league in Rockhampton for more than a century. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

A total of $25 million from the Queensland Government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan has been committed to Stage 1, which includes a rebuild of the western side of the Jack Crow Stand to offer up to 3500 seats.

The state government, in partnership with the Management Group of Browne Park and Rockhampton Leagues Club, started the design process in March 2022.

“The project team is working with key stakeholders including Rockhampton Regional Council and the Department of Resources to progress the project so that all relevant approvals can be obtained,” the statement said.

“Construction is set to commence this year (pending relevant approvals and weather), with Stage 1 completion anticipated by late 2024.”

How the revamped Browne Park will look.

That means Rockhampton Rugby League will be able to use Browne Park for a number of weeks, with its season set to kick off on March 4.

That will also be the case for the Capras, whose men and women both open their respective 2023 seasons with home games at Browne Park on March 11.

Capras CEO Peter White is continuing his campaign to have Rugby Park upgraded to serve not only as an alternate playing venue for the Capras and rugby league competitions but as a multi-purpose facility for other sporting codes as well.

He said if that did not happen, the Capras would still likely use Rugby Park, though the quality of lighting would not allow for night games to be played there.

Capras CEO Peter White: We’ll work around it as we normally do.”

The Capras have six teams involved in Queensland Rugby League competitions - the men, women, under-21 men, under-19 women, and under-18 and under-16 boys.

“It’s probably going to be Rugby Park but we haven’t got lights,” Mr White said when asked about the club’s options.

“If that’s the case, we might just have to play all our games during the day.

“When it comes to winter, we tend to want to play our games earlier anyway to cater for our supporters, and we can play on Sundays.

“We’ll work around it as we normally do. The lack of suitable sporting facilities is very frustrating to say the least but, as usual, we will get on with it.”