Athelite Australian Emus Announced for 2026 Asia Pacific Seniors Touch Cup

Touch Football Australia (TFA) is proud to announce the Athelite Australian Emus teams selected for the upcoming Asia Pacific Seniors Touch Cup (APSTC), to be held in Utsunomiya, Japan, from 7 to 10 October 2026.

Guided by the Federation of International Touch (FIT), the APSTC marks another exciting instalment in the international Touch Football calendar and builds on the success of Asia Pacific Youth and Open events held in Redcliffe, Queensland and Mudgee, New South Wales.

The tournament will bring together the best senior Touch Football athletes from across the Asia Pacific region and beyond in a celebration of international camaraderie, with 13 nations set to compete in high-performance competition: Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, England, Hong Kong China, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, and the United States.

Australia will field teams across 10 divisions:

• Men's 30s
• Men's 35s
• Men's 40s
• Men's 45s
• Men's 50s
• Men's 55s
• Senior Mixed
• Women's 27s
• Women's 35s
• Women's 40s

The selected squads reflect the depth of talent within senior Touch Football, highlighting the strength of the national pathway with athletes representing all States and Territories from across Australia. The teams include an impressive 63 debutant athletes, each earning their first opportunity to wear the Australian jersey on the international stage.

The campaign will also feature 9 former Emus Opens representatives, whose previous service in Australian Opens teams brings valuable experience and leadership to the touring squad, including Tony Eltakchi, Karina Haddin, Kelly Kennedy, Jayden Love, David Roberts, Gavin Shuker, Garry Sonda, Jamie Stow, and Kylie Stewart.

Supporting the athletes is a dedicated group of 30 coaches, assistant coaches, and managers, including 16 debutant team officials who will proudly represent Australia for the first time. Their selection highlights the strength of Australia's coaching and leadership pathways and the continued growth of the senior representative program, with the group bringing a wealth of experience, expertise and passion to the program.

TFA Chief Executive Officer, Marcus Ashcroft, said:

"The APSTC provides an outstanding opportunity for our athletes and officials to represent Australia on the international stage and compete against some of the best senior Touch Football players in the world.

"To have 63 debutant athletes and 16 debutant team officials selected is a fantastic reflection of the development pathways that exist throughout our sport, while also recognising the commitment and contribution of those who have consistently performed at the highest level.

"TFA congratulate all athletes and officials selected and looks forward to seeing them proudly represent Australia in Utsunomiya later this year."

Men’s 30s

• Ken Adams
• Nicholas Foxcroft *
• Matteson Gear
• Nicolas Grant
• Charles Griffiths *
• Kyle Hadwen *
• Daley Harper *
• Kingston Lamberg *
• Lincoln Little *
• Jayden Love – Emu #190
• Luke Simmons
• Travis Simpson *
• Christopher Chung *
• Jeremy Wallace *
• Harold West *
• Francis Witt *
• Coach: Nick Pecchiar
• Assistant Coach: Mark Edwards
• Manager: Kyle Woolfe *

Men’s 35s

• Scott Bradley
• Paul Bryant *
• Kelvin Caspani *
• Mark Cecil
• Jesse Green
• Shane Lee *
• Taki Luke
• Beau Montgomery
• William Petrosanec *
• Tommy Quinlivan
• Dane Ryan
• Ryan Shibasaki
• Joshua Smart
• Ethan Sorrell
• David Zanette
• Coach: Matthew Mitchell *
• Assistant Coach: Gary Benbow
• Manager: Thomas Edgword *

Men’s 40s

• Jonathan Bailey
• Jasbir Bhullar
• Luke Boulton
• Mitchel Brown
• Khanui Cox
• Elies El Chaar
• Jimmy Hyett *
• Brad Lugg
• Trevor Moran
• Justin Nickerson *
• Darren Nosti *
• Shannon O'Brien *
• Tim Robinson
• Shaun Street
• Julian Vertley *
• Rob White
• Coach: Patrick Batiste
• Assistant Coach: Clayton Blackman
• Manager: Barry Neaverson-Smith *

Men’s 45s

• Wayne Calleja *
• Heath Cooper
• Robert Cox *
• Drew Davies
• Heath Egglestone *
• Adam Fahim
• Daniel Hamilton *
• Michael Irvine
• Aaron Jones
• Trung Le
• Andrew Lees
• Justin Loomans
• Warren Lorger
• Troy Nichols
• Adrian Vallelonga
• Mark Williams
• Coach: Paul Krahe
• Assistant Coach: William Gilbert *
• Manager: Michael McGrath

Men’s 50s

• Scott Eisenhauer *
• Tony Eltakchi – Emu #136
• Christopher Ferguson
• Cameron Foster
• Jason Hoang *
• Jack Jardim *
• Paul MacPherson
• Troy Morgan
• Craig Neilan
• David Roberts – Emu #127
• Gavin Shuker – Emu #107
• Les Smith *
• Garry Sonda – Emu #117
• Jamie Stowe – Emu #123
• Steele Tallon
• Alan Woods
• Coach: Peter Vincent
• Assistant Coach: Tim Kitchingham
• Manager: Moses Choy

Men’s 55s

• Craig Bowen *
• Shane Cooper
• Derek Duguid
• Brooke Early
• Edward Fong
• Anthony Hofmeier
• Ian Jordan
• Ron Keleher
• Brian Knight *
• Michael Lennon
• Mark Leonard
• James Marks
• Kevin McCarthy *
• David Merrill
• Brent Saddler *
• Martin Shiner *
• Coach: Kevin Flett *
• Assistant Coach: Mick McCall
• Manager: David Powell *

Senior Mixed

• Matthew Bale
• Nicholas Bale
• Ashleigh Borg *
• Arthur Butler *
• Kelly Goodwin
• Justin Gossage
• Elisabeth Hewitt *
• Kelly Jones
• Reeion Murray *
• Justin Otto
• Jeston Paul *
• Kaya Raupita-Kihi *
• Jarrad Rotumah *
• Cassandra Vincitorio
• Carly Walsh
• Brent Whittaker *
• Coach: Danny Goodwin
• Assistant Coach: Cameron Maxwell *
• Manager: Peter Feldman *

Women’s 27s

• Natasha Adams
• Rebecca Cachia
• Vanessa Da Pra
• Amitty Edgeworth *
• Kimberley Grant
• Madison Harborne
• Nicole Johnston *
• Kayla Mi Mi *
• Marlie Phillips
• Jenna Rowsell
• Jane Schefe *
• Keely Silva *
• Claire Spain *
• Courtney Trenerry
• Caylee Wallis*
• Emma Williams
• Coach: Natalie Little
• Assistant Coach: Stewart Parnaby *
• Manager: Kristi Miller *

Women’s 35s

• Josie Abelson *
• Serena Albert
• Leia Ayoub
• Kate Barker
• Anneleise Carratt *
• Michelle Evans
• Natalie Frizzell *
• Elisabeth Jackson
• Jessika Johnston
• Kelly Kennedy – Emu #114
• Tahney Luck
• Kimberley Latimore *
• Zira Norman *
• Natasha Sergi *
• Claire Stone *
• Christie-Lee Wall *
• Coach: Jay Miller
• Assistant Coach: Nicole Grose *
• Manager: Conor Orlowski *

Women’s 40s

• Elizabeth Channon *
• Vanessa Cooper
• Rachelle Darcy *
• Davina Galetto
• Karina Haddin – Emu #82
• Relle Hart
• Claire Harton *
• Christie Hendrie
• Tramayne Horan *
• Kellie-Jean Johnston
• Kimberley King *
• Jodie May *
• Kerrie Rendell
• Kellie Ryan
• Kylie Stewart – Emu #99
• Kelly Thurecht *
• Coach: Geoff Hooper *
• Assistant Coach: Billy Dorrick *
• Manager: Kate Taylor *

* Denotes debut for Australia.