The 2026 edition of The Championships was defined by history and redemption, as last year’s grand finalists returned to the field on the event’s closing day with fire in their bellies and a point to prove after four days of action in Coffs Harbour.
The Hunter Western Hornets delivered one of the event’s defining moments, defeating the Southern Rebels in the Men’s Open final to claim their third championship in a row and retain the Mark Boland Shield. The Rebels got on the scoreboard early in the opening stanza, but the Hornets soon stamped their authority on the contest and controlled proceedings, running away with an 8-4 victory to create national history. The Hornet’s Riley Jones was named the Craig Pierce Player of the Final, while the Rebels’ Zach Bouzounis was recognised as the Terry Jacks Player of the Series. History was also created in the officiating front, with Zoe Genrich receiving a late call-up into the match after David Baggio withdrew at halftime, becoming the first female in almost forty years to referee a national Men’s Open grand final, and fittingly alongside her brother Zac Genrich.
Both the South West Queensland Swans and the Southern Rebels were chasing a breakthrough in the Women’s Open division, with neither team having previously won the Angela Barr Shield. After falling short in the thrilling 2025 decider, the Rebels proved that you sometimes have to lose a final to win one, building strong second-half momentum to secure their first-ever national Women's Open title. Isabella Slattery produced a starring performance for the Rebels to be awarded Player of the Final, while Brittney Rudd, Keely Silva, and Ruby Thomasyu each crossed for doubles to win 7-3. Adelaide Sylvester was named the Karen Smith Player of the Series for her strong performances throughout the Rebels’ tournament run.
In the Mixed Open grand final, the Hunter Western Hornets erased last year’s heartbreak, outlasting the Brisbane Cobras A side to claim the Tony Eltakchi Shield. Trailing 3-2 at halftime, the Cobras burst out of the blocks early in the second half to level the scores through Liam Bauer, who stepped sharply off his left foot to cross. The Hornets responded soon after, with Luke Simmons showing a burst of speed around the defence to restore the lead at 4-3, a pivotal moment as the Hornets held on to secure the win.
Touch Football also continued to strengthen its commitment to inclusivity, introducing an additional All Abilities division at this year’s event to allow more athletes to compete at a national level. The Brisbane Cobras retained the Tier 1 title against the Sydney Scorpions, while the Southern Rebels edged out last year’s victors, Tasmania Thunder, in Tier 2. The Scorpions did not leave empty-handed, however, defeating the Southern Rebels in the newly introduced Tier 3 division.
The Champion Entity award went to the Hunter Western Hornets, who secured an impressive six championships from seven grand final appearances across the event.
Kim Skelly capped off his efforts at The Championships by being awarded the Rick Borg Medal as Referee of the Tournament, in addition to being named Leading Male Referee. Zoe Genrich and Linda Buchanan continued their strong form from last year, again earning Leading Female Referee and Leading Senior Female Referee honours respectively. Brett Freshwater was named Leading Senior Male Referee, while Nicole Powell received the revered Referees’ Referee Award.
The Championships is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, alongside City of Coffs Harbour.
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Official event photos and highlights can be viewed on the Touch Football Australia Facebook and Instagram pages.
Full results and final standings are listed below.
Men’s Open – Mark Boland Shield
Grand Final
Hunter Western Hornets 8 defeated Southern Rebels 4
Craig Pierce Player of the Final
Riley Jones – Hunter Western Hornets
Terry Jacks Player of the Series
Zach Bouzounis – Southern Rebels
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Kim Skelly
David Baggio
Zac Genrich
Alliance Grand Final
ACT Raiders 10 defeated South Australia Heat 2
Alliance Grand Final Referee Appointments
Bayley Aziz
Jake Bogue
Hayden Wearne
Final Placings
- Hunter Western Hornets
- Southern Rebels
- South Queensland Sharks
- South West Queensland Swans
- Sydney Mets
- Brisbane Cobras
- Central Queensland Bulls
- ACT Raiders
Men’s Open B
Grand Final
Hunter Western Hornets 14 defeated South Australia Heat 1
Player of the Final
Reg Nichols – Hunter Western Hornets
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Daniel Kustec
James Knowlson
Connor Lane
Final Placings
- Hunter Western Hornets
- South Australia Heat
Women’s Open – Angela Barr Shield
Grand Final
Southern Rebels 7 defeated South West Queensland Swans 3
Player of the Final
Isabella Slattery – Southern Rebels
Karen Smith Player of the Series
Adelaide Sylvester – Southern Rebels
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Charlie Cheesley
Caleb Walz
Savannah Draper
Alliance Grand Final
ACT Raiders 8 defeated Victoria Storm 6
Alliance Grand Final Referee Appointments
David Kerwin
Naseh Rizvi
Damon Thompson
Final Placings
- Southern Rebels
- South West Queensland Swans
- Hunter Western Hornets
- South Queensland Sharks
- Sunshine Coast Pineapples
- Sydney Mets
- Sydney Scorpions
- ACT Raiders
Women’s Open B
Grand Final
Central Queensland Bulls 8 defeated Victoria Storm 4
Player of the Final
Lilla Pratt – Central Queensland Bulls
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Abigail Muller
Miriam Hansen
Mason Colwell
Final Placings
- Central Queensland Bulls
- Victoria Storm
- South Australia Heat
Mixed Open – Tony Eltakchi Shield
Grand Final
Hunter Western Hornets 4 defeated Brisbane Cobras A 3
Players of the Final
Amy Dufour & Taimana Elers – Hunter Western Hornets
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Campbell Muir
Tony Calabria
Zoe Genrich
Final Placings
- Hunter Western Hornets
- Brisbane Cobras A
- Sydney Scorpions
- South Queensland Sharks
- Brisbane Cobras B
- Sydney Mets
- Fremantle Rebels
- Northern Eagles
Mixed Open B
Grand Final
South West Queensland Swans 7 defeated Southern Rebels 6
Players of the Final
Jordan Bartlett – South West Queensland Swans
Monique Muskens – Southern Rebels
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Cooper Jones
Clayton Lawrence
Kodey Prendergast
Final Placings
- South West Queensland Swans
- Southern Rebels
- North Queensland Tropical Cyclones
- Northern Territory Devils
Men’s 20s
Grand Final
Hunter Western Hornets A 10 defeated Sydney Scorpions 4
Player of the Final
Kale White – Hunter Western Hornets
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Tom Donehue
John Hamstra
Matt Lavery
Alliance Grand Final
Tasmania Thunder 6 defeated ACT Raiders 5
Alliance Grand Final Referee Appointments
Paul Lawrence
Aaron Searston
Patrick Moran
Final Placings
- Hunter Western Hornets A
- Sydney Scorpions
- Southern Rebels
- South Queensland Sharks
- Hunter Western Hornets B
- Sunshine Coast Pineapples
- Tasmania Thunder
- Central Queensland Bulls
- Brisbane Cobras
- Sydney Mets
- North Queensland Tropical Cyclones
- Northern Eagles
- ACT Raiders
- Victoria Storm
Women’s 20s
Grand Final
Brisbane Cobras 4 defeated South Queensland Sharks 3
Player of the Final
Caitlin Teakle – Brisbane Cobras
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Jordan Randle
Brandon Sanderson
Lachlan Carey
Alliance Grand Final
Western Tigers 5 defeated Victoria Storm 3
Alliance Grand Final Referee Appointments
Micheal Halling
Jon Hall
Simon Jeary
Final Placings
- Brisbane Cobras
- South Queensland Sharks
- Sydney Scorpions
- Hunter Western Hornets A
- Hunter Western Hornets B
- Sydney Mets
- Southern Rebels
- Victoria Storm
- South West Queensland Swans
- Sunshine Coast Pineapples
- Western Tigers
- Northern Eagles
Women’s 27s
Grand Final
Southern Rebels 1 defeated Brisbane Cobras 0
Player of the Final
Dymphna Smith – Southern Rebels
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Emma Bleasdale
Will Schatz
Riley Wotton
Final Placings
- Southern Rebels
- Brisbane Cobras
- Northern Eagles
- South Queensland Sharks
- Defence Warriors
Men’s 30s
Grand Final
Sunshine Coast Pineapples 7 defeated North Queensland Tropical Cyclones 6
Player of the Final
Quinn Witika – Sunshine Coast Pineapples
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Lachlan Freshwater
Micheal Littlefield
Rob McKay
Final Placings
- Sunshine Coast Pineapples
- North Queensland Tropical Cyclones
- Hunter Western Hornets
- South Queensland Sharks
- Central Queensland Bulls
- Sydney Mets
Senior Mixed
Grand Final
Northern Eagles 8 defeated South Queensland Sharks 7
Players of the Final
Aaron Ison & Kimberley Latimore – Northern Eagles
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Hayden Drapaski
Amanda Sheeky
Ajay Smith
Final Placings
- Northern Eagles
- South Queensland Sharks
- Hunter Western Hornets
- Southern Rebels
Men’s 40s
Grand Final
Sydney Scorpions 6 defeated Brisbane Cobras 3
Player of the Final
Jonathan Bailey – Sydney Scorpions
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Brett Freshwater
Darren Couper
John Clark
Final Placings
- Sydney Scorpions
- Brisbane Cobras
- Southern Rebels
- Hunter Western Hornets
- Northern Eagles
- Victoria Storm
Women’s 40s
Grand Final
Hunter Western Hornets 4 defeated Brisbane Cobras 3
Player of the Final
Kimberly King – Hunter Western Hornets
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Linda Buchanan
Rebecca Rogeres
Amanda Crowley
Final Placings
- Hunter Western Hornets
- Brisbane Cobras
- Southern Rebels
- Northern Eagles
Masters Mixed
Grand Final
South Queensland Sharks 10 defeated West South West Suns 6
Players of the Final
Zara Hartley & Shea Paki – South Queensland Sharks
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Michael Landsberg
Ben Harriss
Giancarlo Leung
Final Placings
- South Queensland Sharks
- West South West Suns
- Defence Warriors
- Northern Eagles
- Hunter Western Hornets
Men’s 45s
Grand Final
Brisbane Cobras 6 defeated Sydney Mets 5
Richard Hamilton Player of the Final
Stephen Swan – Brisbane Cobras
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Paul Richardson
Trevor Schelberg
Justin Parsons
Final Placings
- Brisbane Cobras
- Sydney Mets
- Central Queensland Bulls
- Hunter Western Hornets
- Southern Rebels
- South Queensland Sharks
- Victoria Storm
Women’s 45s
Grand Final
Hunter Western Hornets 7 defeated Brisbane Cobras 1
Player of the Final
Rachelle Darcy – Hunter Western Hornets
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Terri Alexander
Michael Genrich
Paul Tesoreiro
Final Placings
- Hunter Western Hornets
- Brisbane Cobras
Men’s 50s
Grand Final
Sydney Scorpions 7 defeated Brisbane Cobras 6
Player of the Final
Tony Eltakchi – Sydney Scorpions
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Ben Horner
Sam Piper
Graig Carmody
Final Placings
- Sydney Scorpions
- Brisbane Cobras
- South Queensland Sharks
- Hunter Western Hornets
- Western Tigers
- Sydney Mets
- Victoria Storm
- Northern Eagles
Women’s 50s
Grand Final
South West Queensland Swans 4 defeated Hunter Western Hornets 0
Player of the Final
Jennine Gyemore – South West Queensland Swans
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Kenneth Chan
Damien Miller
Fiona Quinn
Final Placings
- South West Queensland Swans
- Hunter Western Hornets
- Brisbane Cobras
- Sydney Scorpions
Men’s 55s
Grand Final
Sydney Scorpions 4 defeated South Queensland Sharks 3
Player of the Final
Jason Hoang – Sydney Scorpions
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Jason Whitney
Barry Nichols
Joshua North
Final Placings
- Sydney Scorpions
- South Queensland Sharks
- ACT Raiders
- Brisbane Cobras
- Hunter Western Hornets
- Victoria Storm
Women’s 55s
Grand Final
Sydney Scorpions 2 defeated Brisbane Cobras 1
Player of the Final
Carole Chapman – Sydney Scorpions
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Craig Jeffs
Michael Donato
Rebecca Buzzacot
Final Placings
- Sydney Scorpions
- Brisbane Cobras
- Northern Eagles
Men’s 60s
Grand Final
Sydney Scorpions 2 defeated South Queensland Sharks 0
Player of the Final
Anthony Wong – Sydney Scorpions
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Simon Croft
Chris Murray
Mike Ellis
Final Placings
- Sydney Scorpions
- South Queensland Sharks
- North Queensland Tropical Cyclones
- Western Tigers
Men’s 65s
Grand Final
Brisbane Cobras 3 defeated Sydney Scorpions 0
Player of the Final
Peter Hawes – Brisbane Cobras
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Josh Little
Richard Norris
Tony Bradley
Final Placings
- Brisbane Cobras
- Sydney Scorpions
- West South West Suns
- Northern Eagles
- South Queensland Sharks
- North Queensland Tropical Cyclones
All Abilities Tier 1
Grand Final
Brisbane Cobras 7 defeated Sydney Scorpions 1
Player of the Final
Jacob Miles – Brisbane Cobras
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Phillip Balcombe
Damien Miller
Rebecca Buzacott
Final Placings
- Brisbane Cobras
- Sydney Scorpions
- Hunter Western Hornets
- South Queensland Sharks
All Abilities Tier 2
Grand Final
Southern Rebels 11 defeated Tasmania Thunder 9
Player of the Final
Maison Beecroft – Southern Rebels
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Beth Monk
Graham Goodwin
Nic Altin
Final Placings
- Southern Rebels Tier 2
- Tasmania Thunder
- Wagga Wagga Vipers
- Ballina Bullsharks
- ACT Raiders Tier 3
- South West Queensland Swans A
- ACT Raiders Tier 2
- South Queensland Sharks
All Abilities Tier 3
Grand Final
Sydney Scorpions 13 defeated Southern Rebels 5
Player of the Final
Cruz Pritchard – Sydney Scorpions
Grand Final Referee Appointments
Jason Whitney
Marcus Muller
Joe Mercuri
Final Placings
- Sydney Scorpions
- Southern Rebels Tier 3
- South West Queensland Swans B
- Hunter Western Hornets
- Macksville Falcons
Champion Entity
Hunter Western Hornets
REFEREE AWARDS
Referee of the Tournament – Rick Borg Medallist
Kim Skelly
Leading Female Referee
Zoe Genrich
Leading Male Referee
Kim Skelly
Leading Senior Female Referee
Linda Buchanan
Leading Senior Male Referee
Brett Freshwater
Referees’ Referee Award
Nicole Powell
Referee Team Awards
Team 1 – Ken Chan
Team 2 – Tua Kiri-Marie Makauharemahihi
Team 3 – Graham Goodwin
Team 4 – Ashtyn Sykes
Team 5 – Casey Patea
Team 6 – Brad Smith
Team 7 – Shelley Cox
Team 8 – David Kerwin
Team 9 – Neil O’Brien
Team 10 – Justin Hill
Team 11 – Brett Powell
Team 12 – Anthony Johnson
Team 13 – Abigail Muller
Team 14 – Nicole Powell
Team 15 – Ben Horner
Team 16 – John Clark
