Australia Sevens, Wallaroos to call Ballymore home with ‘Teams of Gold’ upgrade

Australia’s Sevens program is set to have a new home in the Sunshine State, with Queensland Rugby’s spiritual home of Ballymore set for a colossal upgrade ahead of the 2032 Olympics.

As part of a new partnership between Rugby Australia, the Queensland Rugby Union and the Queensland Government, the move will see the stadium as the permanent, year-round home for both the men’s and women’s high performance programs, relocating from Moore Park in Sydney.

Ballymore will also become the new permanent home of the Wallaroos high performance program, as the women’s national side will complete its transition into full professionalism by November 2026.

The national side already has a footprint on the ground at Ballymore, having played two test matches there in the last two years, the side having also been based at the recently opened National Rugby Training Centre.

The Wallabies will also make use of the facility whenever the side is in Queensland, with the precinct also a training site for the Queensland Reds men’s, women’s and academy teams.

Dubbed the ‘Team in Gold’ Facility, the move has a clear focus on key upcoming events, with the sevens program set to move in well ahead of Brisbane hosting the 2032 Olympics, with the Wallaroos using the precinct as their based for the 2029 Rugby World Cup.

With Australia’s high performance programs in need of a built-for-purpose facility, the upgrade to Ballymore signals a stars-aligning moment to bring them under one roof, with dedicated training pitches, a state-of-the-art gymnasium, and dedicated teams rooms and spaces set to be included.

All of these new spaces will be built on the site of Ballymore’s famous eastern grandstand, replacing it with a new 2,400-seat grandstand which, along with the recently upgraded 3,010-capacity McLean Stand and the Hill, will bring the capacity of the 60-year-old venue to 8,000.

The news comes at a perfect time for both the sevens and XVs programs, with alignment, especially in the women’s game, already underway.

“This is an historic moment for Australian Rugby and the benefits from today’s announcement will be felt for generations,” Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh announced.

“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.”

Ballymore has a decorated history within Australia rugby since its opening in 1966, including having hosted five matches at the 1987 Rugby World Cup, including a quarterfinal and semifinal.

The Wallabies have played 48 Test matches at the venue, including famously hosting over 26,000 fans in 1993 when they defeated South Africa 28-20, with the British and Irish Lions also playing at the venue against the ANZAC XV in 1989.

The venue has been long overdue for an upgrade since the Reds moved to Lang Park in 2005, with the eastern stand closed due to safety concerns – setting the stage for the precinct to become a world-class facility.

“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,” Queensland Premier David Crisafulli added.

“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.”

Construction on the new facility is set to commence later this year, following the conclusion of the Queensland Reds Super Rugby AUS campaign in September-October, with the final of the Hospital Cup 2026 season set to be played at the end of August.

“This is a day of huge significance for rugby in Queensland and Australia,” Queensland Rugby Union CEO 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.”