A major investment from the Queensland Government in a new high-performance Olympic training facility will transform Ballymore into one of the world’s best rugby precincts.
Today’s game-changing announcement is the culmination of ambitious co-operation between the Queensland Rugby Union, Rugby Australia and the State Government.
Ballymore's obsolete Eastern Stand will be demolished and replaced by the state-of-the-art Teams in Gold Facility for Rugby Australia's Olympic Sevens and women's programs. Rugby Sevens will become the first Olympic program to move to Queensland since Brisbane was confirmed as host of the 2032 Olympics.
The Teams In Gold Facility will feature an integrated 2400-seat grandstand, with a fourth floodlit training field and floodlights for Ballymore’s No.1 field also included. The project will commence later this year. It will complete the inner-city precinct’s high-performance upgrade after the 2023 opening of the $31.5 million BMS National Rugby Training Centre and McLean Stand.
The Teams in Gold Facility will see the relocation of the Women’s and Men’s National Olympic Sevens program from NSW, with athletes and select Rugby Australia staff moving to Brisbane.
The facility will also provide a year-round base for the Wallaroos women’s program as well as the Wallabies when in Queensland.
“This is a day of huge significance for rugby in Queensland and Australia," QRU Chief Executive David Hanham said.
"We set out with a clear and ambitious vision to create a truly world-class high-performance and community sporting precinct. Today, we have realised that vision.
"This will be one of the best high-performance precincts in the world for rugby and it will stand proudly here in Queensland. More than that, it will create a hub for community sport and athlete development.
“Thanks to the vision and leadership of the Queensland Government, led by Premier Crisafulli, the partnership with the QRU and Rugby Australia is laying the foundations for a future of long-term, sustainable excellence for rugby in Queensland.
“The future of Australian Rugby has never looked brighter, and there is no better place to build that future than right here in Queensland.”
As part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to rugby, Ballymore’s main field will also be upgraded to a modern 8000-capacity multi-purpose venue able to host junior, club, provincial and international matches and ensure the precinct’s 60-year tradition as the home of rugby in the state long into the future.
The QRU will continue Ballymore's commercial development, with planning permissions in place for potential allied health, health & wellbeing and education facilities. The new facilities at Ballymore will open the door for broader benefits for rugby in Queensland.
It will create opportunities to host additional events such as the Rugby Australia Summit, the NZ Rugby Union/Rugby Australia Summit, the Super Rugby Pacific Summit, the Oceania/World Rugby Summit and SANZAAR Board Meeting. In further good news, the John Eales Medal will be held in Queensland twice over the next seven years when the highest gongs in Australian rugby are awarded.
The golden period for rugby in Queensland accelerated in June with the announcement of three ANZAC Day Bledisloe Cup matches in Brisbane between the Wallabies and All Blacks in 2027, 2029 and 2031. This is on top of the 10 matches scheduled for Brisbane and four for Townsville during the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The upgrades to Ballymore will also see the opportunity for more Wallaroos and Super Rugby Women’s matches, a Super Rugby Women and Super Rugby Aupiki (NZ) cross-over Final and the Australian Club Championship. Premier David Crisafulli said Queensland continued to cement its standing as Australia’s home of sport and major events.
“Queensland is the new home of Rugby Sevens and the Wallaroos because organisations want to be part of what we are building here in Queensland," Premier Crisafulli said.
“Having national teams based in Queensland at Ballymore only grows the game and encourages more kids to dream of pulling on the green and gold one day.”
Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said Ballymore’s upgrades would see more Queenslanders take up rugby.
“This partnership is a major coup for Queensland and another example of the Crisafulli Government attracting sport to our state,” Minister Mander said.
“As we build toward the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we want Queensland to be a place where athletes can train, compete and thrive, while giving more Queenslanders the opportunity to get involved in sport.”
Rugby Australia Chief Executive Phil Waugh welcomed the new facility to be built at Ballymore.
“This is an historic moment for Australian Rugby and the benefits from today’s announcement will be felt for generations,” Waugh said.
“The major upgrade of Ballymore will ensure the game’s spiritual home in Queensland will evolve into a high-performance centre of excellence to rival any around the rugby world.
"All of this has been made possible because of the strength of the partnership between the Queensland Government, the QRU and Rugby Australia.”
