RUGBY and football stars will call Ystrad Mynach home from next year as work to create a state-of-the-art centre for sporting excellence are sprinting ahead.

The new development will see the former Ystrad Mynach hospital site transformed into a sports hub, with both professional and community teams able to make use of the facilities.

Workers are on task to transform the area by the end of February 2014, with installation of the facility to follow shortly after.

Contractors are currently constructing the main building and two grandstands and slabs from the former hospital buildings are being removed to make way for third generation rugby and football pitches, which will be used by Newport Gwent Dragons rugby team and Cardiff City Football Club.

Representatives from Caerphilly County Borough Council, the WRU, Newport Gwent Dragons and Heron Bros Ltd, which is responsible for the build, visited the site this week and were impressed by the progress being made.

Cllr Dave Poole, cabinet member for community and leisure services, said the development was an investment in residents overall health and wellbeing, which would provide many opportunities for them to live healthy and active lives as possible.

He said: "When completed and fitted out to the highest standard, I am looking forward to seeing local teams and emerging talent rubbing shoulders with the professional rugby and football players of Newport Gwent Dragons and Cardiff City FC.”

Newport Gwent Dragons chief executive, Dr Chris Brown, added, “We are looking forward to having this state of the art facility available to our region for the 2014/15 season. For the first time, we will have a 3G pitch available exclusively for ourselves to train on plus the gym and medical facilities. This will make a big difference, particularly in the depths of winter.”

Martin O’Kane, deputy managing director for Heron Bros contractors, said, “We are delighted to be working with Caerphilly County Borough Council on this prestigious project. We strive to bring benefit to the communities in which we work and we look forward to developing strong links with local sub-contractors, suppliers and providing general employment for local people."