The Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) and Brisbane Roar FC (BRFC) are excited to announce Ballymore as the new training base for the Roar men’s squad.
As a precinct partner of the 2032 Olympic facility, the Roar commenced their training preparations this week at the newly redeveloped venue ahead of the upcoming 2023/2024 Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s season.
QRU CEO David Hanham said: “It’s great to have the Brisbane Roar back at Ballymore.
“Having the men’s program train at our world-class facility reinforces the QRU’s vision for Ballymore as a multi-sport high-performance hub.
“It’ll see two Olympic sports in rugby and football come together at the one precinct - a milestone moment as we build towards the 2032 Brisbane Games.
“Our future vision for the Ballymore precinct is for the Eastern Stand to become a high-performance centre of excellence for Olympic sports, and the first home for women’s rectangular sport with stage one of Ballymore’s redevelopment now complete following the construction of the National Rugby Training Centre and McLean Stand.
“We look forward to welcoming their men’s program to the precinct but also the women’s squad to the venue for their upcoming home fixtures at Ballymore,” said Hanham.
BRFC Chairman and CEO Kaz Patafta said: “The Ballymore Sports Hub is a state-of-the-art facility, and we are delighted to have our men’s squad utilise the venue as their training base.
“Providing our players with a professional and consistent training environment will have a great impact on our club moving forward.
“We look forward to continuing to strengthen and expand our partnership with the QRU and we’re committed to ensuring our teams are exposed to high-performance facilities and infrastructure,” said Patafta.
Today’s announcement further cements the partnership between the QRU and BRFC that will see A-League Men’s and Women’s Roar matches played at Ballymore.
It heralds a new era for the precinct as Ballymore becomes the first home of women’s rectangular sport in Queensland ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
With the addition of football, up to four women’s Olympic sports (rugby union, hockey, sport climbing and football) will all use the facility in the next decade as part of Ballymore’s golden runway leading into the Brisbane Games.
Following completion in June this year, the National Rugby Training Centre (NRTC) marked the first stage of an exciting redevelopment of the iconic Herston site as part of Ballymore’s Master Plan.
