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2025 Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup: Final Results and Wrap-Up
Three days of international Touch Football competition wrapped up on Saturday afternoon for the 2025 Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup (APYTC) – with Australia crowned Champion Nation after claiming victory in four of six divisions.
The Athelite Australian Emus’ successes in the international arena follow their heroics at last month’s Open Trans-Tasman Series where they completed a clean sweep, with the Trans-Tasman rivalry revisited this week with Australia and the New Zealand Touch Blacks facing off again in all six APYTC grand finals.
New Zealand won the first grand final of the day in extra-time with a final 9-7 score in the Mixed 18s, scoring two tries in two minutes after the match was locked up 7-all in a back-and-forth affair in regulation. Doubles to Keanu Graham and Dylan Yare sparked the victory with the pair starring for the Kiwis to overcome a gallant Australian side.
The Girls 18s grand final saw the Athelite Australian Emus chalk up a 6-1 win over New Zealand courtesy of a double to Alice Mitchell. Australia was largely dominant from start to finish in the contest and capped off a strong tournament run conceding only one loss in all their games played.
A complete performance in the Boys 18s from Australia ensured they took the victory 6-3 against New Zealand, with the host nation in control from the opening siren. The Touch Blacks scored a consolation try in the closing minute of the match to shorten the final score, but it was the Emus who claimed victory thanks to a Brandon Cox double and a stirring display from Jontaye Brown.
A second-half blowout gave the Athelite Australian Emus a dominant 11-5 win over the Touch Blacks in the Mixed 20s final. After a first-half shootout resulted in a 4-3 advantage to Australia, the green and gold shifted gears in the second stanza to take the win – led by an influential performance from Kayliss Brown and classy doubles to Flynn Madders and Lily Neill.
A send-off in the seventh minute of play gave Australia a numbers advantage for the remainder of the Women’s 20s grand final with Kate Hammond getting caught in a tussle with Eleina Ieremia who was consequently sent off to put New Zealand on the back foot. It was one-way traffic for the Athelite Australian Emus as they took their opportunities with a final 9-2 scoreline including a hat-trick to Ellie Wilson, with the Touch Blacks putting in a brave performance despite the disadvantage.
In the final game of the tournament, the Men’s 20s grand final between Australia and New Zealand produced a thriller with the match going to extra-time after a tied 4-4 scoreline – the third draw between the nations at the event. The Touch Blacks’ Thomas D’Urban-Burgess was the hero, scoring the only try in extra-time to give New Zealand the victory with Australia rueing missed opportunities throughout the contest.
Touch Football Australia, in conjunction with the Federation of International Touch, would like to thank all players, volunteers, staff, officials, and referees for their efforts in producing a successful event despite the intermittent wet conditions.
The Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup is proudly supported by City of Moreton Bay.
Missed the action? Catch all the daily replays on Kayo Sports.
Official event photos can be viewed on the Touch Football Australia Facebook page.
Full results and final standings are listed below.
Mixed 18s
Grand Final
New Zealand Touch Blacks 9 defeated Athelite Australian Emus 7
Australian Players’ Player
Jake Medved
Australian Coach’s Award
Micaeli Robust
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Mitchell Bailey
John Hamstra
Quinn Murphy
Final Standings
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Tonga
Girls 18s
Grand Final
Athelite Australian Emus 6 defeated New Zealand Touch Blacks 1
Australian Players’ Player
Alice Mitchell
Australian Coach’s Award
Evie Clarkson
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Baxter Robinson-Kennard
Amanda Sheeky
Ajay Smith
Final Standings
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Lebanon
Boys 18s
Grand Final
Athelite Australian Emus 6 defeated New Zealand Touch Blacks 3
Australian Players’ Player
Jontaye Brown
Australian Coach’s Award
Harry Lidbury
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Matt Lavery
Ben McLauchlan
Lachlan Freshwater
Final Standings
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Lebanon
- Niue
Mixed 20s
Grand Final
Athelite Australian Emus 11 defeated New Zealand Touch Blacks 5
Australian Players’ Player
Jesse Walker
Australian Coach’s Award
Kate Ellem
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Charlie Cheesley
Alec Clark
Zac Genrich
Final Standings
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Philippines
- Papua New Guinea
- Tonga
Women’s 20s
Grand Final
Athelite Australian Emus 9 defeated New Zealand Touch Blacks 2
Australian Players’ Player
Waimarie Takerei
Australian Coach’s Award
Ava Simpson
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Lachlan Carey
Caleb Walz
Jimmy Wang
Final Standings
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Samoa
- Cook Islands
- Singapore
Men’s 20s
Grand Final
New Zealand Touch Blacks 5 defeated Athelite Australian Emus 4
Australian Players’ Player
John Paul Catalano
Australian Coach’s Award
Darby Crowley
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Jordan Randle
Campbell Muir
Brandon Sanderson
Final Standings
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Cook Islands
Champion Nation
Australia
Roxy Winder Award
Chloe Nikola
Troy Malcolm Award
John Paul Catalano
Leading Female Referee
Amanda Sheeky
Leading Male Referee
Jordan Randle
