James Hardie Centre of Excellence
Kellyville, New South Wales, Australia
James Hardie Centre of Excellence, Kellyville, Australia — opened Officially unveiled/opened 22 May 2025 (public tours began 14-16 Oct 2025); cost A$70 million, 30 rugby league games hosted, home of Parramatta Eels (NRL, NRLW, Academy/pathways, and club administration), since May 2025; previously the Eels trained at 'The Old Saleyards' facility.
Sourcing caveat: Floodlights not specifically confirmed. Capacity figures for different parts of the precinct are not reconciled.
Ground facts
| Opened | Officially unveiled/opened 22 May 2025 (public tours began 14-16 Oct 2025); cost A$70 million (This is NOT a traditional match-day rugby league ground with a history of past tenants — it is a purpose-built modern training and administrative facility, so this write-up covers a very different kind of venue from most others in this backlog. Naming-rights sponsorship with James Hardie (the building-products company, and a former Eels jersey sponsor 1981-1995) was announced 12 Jun 2025, shortly after the physical opening; the exact sequencing between opening and naming is not fully clear in sources found.) |
| Home club | Parramatta Eels (NRL, NRLW, Academy/pathways, and club administration), since May 2025; previously the Eels trained at 'The Old Saleyards' facility |
| Games hosted (rugby league, on record) | 30 |
| Top recorded crowd | 0 |
| Capacity | Reported figures vary between components of the precinct: approx. 5,000-person capacity for match/community facilities per one source, vs. the community centre grandstand holding 3,000-4,000 for a game per another — likely different sub-venues (main show-field grandstand vs. secondary fields), not resolved |
| Surface | Five full-size rugby league fields; grass vs hybrid not specified in sources found |
| Years used | 2022–2026 |
| Location | Kellyville, New South Wales |
Name history
- James Hardie Centre of Excellence and Community Centre — since the May-June 2025 opening/naming period
Rugby league history
An 11-hectare precinct with five full-size fields, an indoor training centre, gym, rehab pools, medical facilities, and a Community Centre with a public gym and function room. Marketed as the largest facility of its kind in rugby league and the first fully integrated NRL/NRLW facility in Australia. Funded by NSW and federal governments, The Hills Shire Council, and Parramatta Leagues Club. The James Hardie naming-rights deal drew public criticism from asbestos-disease advocates, given James Hardie's history as Australia's largest asbestos manufacturer. No notable competitive first-team NRL matches or Test/representative fixtures have been confirmed at the venue as of research.
Sources
Data last verified: 11 August 2026.
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