A world-leading Teams In Gold Facility will become the new home of the Australian Sevens and Wallaroos programs and the centrepiece of the Queensland Government’s historic upgrade of the Ballymore precinct.
A landmark partnership between Rugby Australia, Queensland Rugby Union and the Queensland Government will see the Teams In Gold Facility constructed on the site of the Eastern Stand at Ballymore, with the project to commence later this year.
Featuring a new and dedicated training pitch, state-of-the-art gymnasium, team rooms and office space, the Teams In Gold Facility will provide a year-round base for the fulltime Australian Sevens and Wallaroos programs as well as the Wallabies when in Queensland.
Rugby Australia’s High Performance unit has worked closely with the QRU and the Queensland Government to ensure the built-for-purpose headquarters will provide generations of national players, coaches and staff a world-class training environment and workspace.
The Queensland Government’s investment will see the Australian Men’s and Women’s Sevens programs move to the Teams In Gold Facility ahead of the Brisbane Olympics in 2032, joined by the Wallaroos as they build towards a home Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2029.
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, provincial and international matches and ensure the precinct’s 60-year tradition as the home of rugby in the state will continue long into the future.
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh said: “This is an historic moment for Australian Rugby and the benefits from today’s announcement will be felt for generations. 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.
“Once the Teams In Gold Facility is complete, including a dedicated training pitch for our national teams, the Australian Sevens will become the first Olympic programs to relocate to Brisbane since the city was awarded the 2032 Games. It has been ten years since our Aussie Women inspired the nation with Olympic gold in Rio and, as reigning World Champions, it is fitting they will soon call the Olympic City home alongside our Wallaroos and Australian Men’s Sevens squads.
“All of this has been made possible because of the strength of the partnership between the Queensland Government, the Queensland Rugby Union and Rugby Australia. It is exactly 60 years since the Queensland Government first provided the Queensland Rugby Union with a deed of grant to relocate to Ballymore and, following today’s announcement, David Crisafulli’s Queensland Government has ensured the precinct will remain the heartbeat of rugby in the state for many years to come.”
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said: “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.
“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.”
Queensland Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said: “This partnership is a major coup for Queensland and another example of the Crisafulli Government attracting sport to our state.
“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.”
Queensland Rugby Union CEO David Hanham said: “This is a day of huge significance for rugby in Queensland and Australia. 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.”
