A NEW state-of-the-art sports complex in Caerphilly county borough will be named Caerphilly County Borough Centre for Sporting Excellence.

The £7m centre in Ystrad Mynach, which is due for completion in the next few weeks, will be used as training base for the Newport Gwent Dragons from June.

The centre will also approach the WRU with a view to hosting junior international matches.

Other names considered at a Caerphilly county cabinet meeting on Wednesday were Ystrad Mynach Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach Sports Park and Ystrad Mynach Performance Centre.

But the new name, whose Welsh translation is Canolfan Rhagoriaeth Chwaraeon Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili, is set to be the one adopted by the council.

Development of the site began in May last year after the demolition of the former Ystrad Mynach Hospital buildings. New 3G pitches and a gymnasium will be built, while two grandstands have already been erected, and work on community facilities a conditioning suite has begun.

As part of the usage proposals for the complex, key partners such as the Dragons, the WRU and Cardiff City FC will share use of the facility during the day between Monday and Friday, while community clubs will have use of the centre in the evenings and on weekends.

The centre also hopes to provide visiting senior rugby international squads during future annual autumn international series with training facilities, while working alongside local hotels to provide overnight accommodation.