The University of Wollongong has expanded its partnership with the St George Illawarra Dragons, under which it will take on naming rights to one of the Australian NRL rugby league club’s home stadia.
The new two-year partnership will cover the 2016 and 2017 NRL seasons. The Dragons’ Jubilee Oval ground will now officially be known as UOW Jubilee Oval after the club and the university signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding with the local Kogarah Council.
As part of the deal, the two parties will also collaborate on community initiatives in the St George area. The initiatives will focus on inspiring school students and setting long-term education and career goals.
There are currently 17 Dragons players studying at the University of Wollongong as part of the Graduates of League programme, which aims to increase university entry, retention and completion rates among professional sports people. The Dragons ran a successful trial of the programme in 2012 and a number of NRL clubs have since followed suit.
The university first teamed up with the Dragons in 2009 and the two parties have worked together on a number of research-based initiatives, scholarships, internships, community programmes and promotions. The first game at the newly-named UOW Jubilee Oval will take place on Thursday when the Dragons take on the Canberra Raiders.