Hazelwood (rugby ground)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The home of London Irish | |
.jpg) View of part of clubhouse from the approach road, Hazelwood Drive | |
 Interactive map of Hazelwood | |
| Location | Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°24′25″N 0°25′12″W / 51.407°N 0.420°W |
| Owner | London Irish |
| Type | Sports facility |
| Capacity | 2,000 |
| Surface | Grass Rhino-Turf VT60 (one pitch) |
| Construction | |
| Built | 2013 |
| Opened | 2014 |
| Construction cost | £12m |
| Architect | EPR Architects |
| Tenants | |
| London Irish Amateur London Broncos Women | |
| Website | |
| https://www.hazelwood-centre.co.uk/ | |
The Hazelwood Centre is a dual-code rugby ground and sports facility in Sunbury-on-Thames in the English county of Surrey. The facility is known as the home of London Irish. The former professional rugby union side London Irish used the facility as its administrative base and for training, Premiership Rugby Shield matches and pre-season friendlies from opening until entering administration in 2023. London Irish Amateur have also used the facility for training and all home games since opening.
In November 2025 the rugby league team London Broncos took over the facilities vacated by London Irish professional team with their training and administrative offices being based here. Their women’s team and reserves also play their matches at Hazelwood.[1]
Having replaced the facility at The Avenue, the fields sit in the club's natural green-buffered 63-acre holding. The previous owner of this parcel of Metropolitan Green Belt was a golf club (supporting its driving range and nine hole-course). A remnant of its landscaping is a small, professionally-planted pondside reserve. Initially the plans for the Training Ground where blocked in 2011 by then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, following a public inquiry with local residents who cited the loss of urban space and impact on the green belt as key factors. Following extensive revisions, Spelthorne Borough Council granted permission for the Training Ground to be built a year later.
The facilities officially opened on July 1st 2014 with players past and present invited along with local dignitaries including IRFU President Louis Magee, grandson of Louis Magee, who was one of the founders of London Irish in 1898 and is the first player listed on the club’s International Honours Board.
Following London Irish's Administration in 2023, it was confirmed that the ground was part of the club's insolvency package, meaning it could be sold to creditors to pay off Irish's outstanding debt. The Administrative and Training facilities were closed indefinitely however the pitches were still allowed to be used by London Irish Amateur and Gael Londain GAA. The kitchen, bar and conference room were also permitted to remain open along with the relevant offices.
Hawkedale Primary School is situated adjacent to the clubhouse, with both facilities sharing access via Hazelwood Drive. To the west of the school is the 862nd Sunbury Squadron of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, a youth organization that provides aviation-related training and leadership development for young people. Additionally, a private track in the vicinity leads to a local fishery, which serves as a recreational spot for anglers and is managed for conservation and leisure activities.
The ground can be accessed by public transport on Green Street with Transport for London operating the 216 between Staines and Kingston and the 235 operating between Brentford and Sunbury Village. Surrey's White Bus number 555 also operates between Heathrow Airport and Walton-on-Thames. Sunbury railway station is located about a mile north of the facility with services into London Waterloo and Shepperton.
London Broncos
In November 2025 the London Broncos moved to a new training base, taking over the former London Irish rugby union club facility in Sunbury-on-Thames in Surrey. The Hazelwood complex will serve as the Broncos new training ground and also their administrative base. The Broncos are the primary tenants at the site, however London Irish Amateur will still continue play their Regional 2 Thames level six games there.[2]
In November 2025, London Broncos Women announced Hazelwood in Sunbury-on-Thames as their new ground to train and play matches for 2026.[3]