Welcome to the April edition of the Water Polo NSW Member Newsletter! March saw the end of the summer and Super League season and we held the Big Orange U12 Festival.

The end of the season doesn't mean the water polo stops, we now start to look forward to Winter Metro and interstate competitions.

See you poolside soon!

The summer season has come to a conclusion on Wednesday 25 March after Grand Finals took place across the state.

Congratulations to all teams for their participation and achievements in the Summer Metro competition and regional competitions.

Water Polo NSW would like to thank Pymble Ladies’ College, St Catherine’s School, Drummoyne Swimming Centre, Ryde Aquatic Centre and Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre for hosting Summer Metro matches. Your hospitality and support in providing excellent venues is greatly appreciated.

We would also like to thank all of the coaches, referees, officials, parents and team managers for your support over the whole season.

The junior and senior Summer Metro medallists can be found on our website.

All photos from the Summer Metro Grand Finals can be found here using the password summermetro26, and all live streamed games can be rewatched on YouTube.

From 20 March - 22 March the top six teams in the men and women's leagues competed to be win Water Polo NSW's Super League for the 2025-26 season.

UNSW Wests Men's team clinched the gold medal for the second year running after a 18-13 victory over Sydney University.

Drummoyne took the bronze medal after they beat Cronulla with a 14-10 win.

In the women's, Cronulla clinched the gold medal for the first time after a 11-8 victory over the reigning champions, UTS Balmain!

Sydney Uni took the bronze medal after they beat Drummoyne in a convincing 18-8 game.

A huge thank you to all coaches, referees, officials, parents and team managers for your commitment over the season.

Congratulations to all teams that took part over the season, particularly our medalists and Top 7 athletes.

Photos from the Grand Finals can be found here using the password superleague26, and live streamed games can be re-watched on our YouTube channel.

We hosted the Big Orange U12 Festival from 6–8 March, at Orange Aquatic Centre. The event brought together juniors from across New South Wales for a for a vibrant and highly competitive weekend of water polo. 

A huge congratulations to all participating clubs on a fantastic competition across both divisions, and to the six referees that were accredited over the weekend. 

We would also like to extend our thanks to Central West Water Polo, Orange City Council, all players, parents, referees, volunteers and club officials whose passion and dedication contributed to the success of the championships.

Read all about the event on our website.

Congratulations to all of our NSW athletes selected for the upcoming Australian Sharks Squad, who are currently preparing for the World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup Division 2 in Malta, from 7-13 April 2026.

Winter Metro

The Winter Metro dates have now been published and are available here.

The Junior Clubs vote was unanimously in favour of adopting a two-game format across four Sundays, replacing the traditional Winter Metro model.

Sport Integirty Webinars

Starting 16 April, Sport Integrity Australia will be delivering practical topics for sports, with more interaction and shorter sessions.

Topics include supporting women and girls in sport, child safety in sport and protecting fair play.

Register now for the 2026 Integrity Webinar Series via their website.

Governance Handbook

Water Polo NSW has launched a Clubs & Association Governance Handbook, funded by Office of Sport, and written by Margot Foster, to help volunteer directors to lead their clubs with confidence and clarity.

The handbook is in full on the website. 

Water Polo NSW Constitution Webinar

📢 Save the Date: Water Polo NSW Constitution Webinar – 28th May!

Is your club constitution outdated or in need of a refresh? Water Polo NSW is offering a free online webinar to guide committee members and club officials on how to review, update, and modernise your constitution.

🗓 Date: Thursday, 28th May 2026

🕒 Time: 7pm

💻 Location: Online (details coming soon)

This webinar will help you:

• Identify outdated clauses and governance gaps
• Understand what needs to be included in a modern constitution
• Get practical guidance on how to update your constitution effectively
• Ask questions and receive expert advice

💡 Have specific issues or topics you want covered? Contact us – we’ll tailor the session to your needs.

Take advantage of this free, practical opportunity to ensure your club’s constitution is up-to-date and compliant. Don’t miss out!

You can sign up here.

Marketing and Member Communications Coordinator Vacancy

We are currently recruiting for a Marketing and Member Communications Coordinator to join our team.

We are looking for someone who is a personable go-getter, ideally with experience in customer service, office administration and marketing and communications either from within the sport/recreation sector or in a busy corporate environment.

You must be comfortable conversing with a various range of stakeholders whilst providing outstanding service to all.

A tenacious attention to detail is essential, along with the ability to problem-solve and prioritise multiple and varied tasks simultaneously to meet deadlines in a fast paced environment.

If this sounds like you, full details of the position and how to apply can be found here.

Australian Water Polo League

Congratulations to the NSW teams that medaled at the finals of the Australian Water Polo League.

Cronulla Women and UNSW Wests Men both did the double winning the Super League and Australain Water Polo League.

NSW teams completed the medalists in the men's league, with Cronulla taking the silver and Drummoyne winning the bronze.

Sydney Uni women took the silver after losing to Cronulla in the final.

Australian Youth Championships

Good luck to all the NSW teams heading to Brisbane to compete in the Australian Youth Championships.

• Central Coast
• Cronulla
• Drummoyne
• Hunter Hurricanes
• Ryde
• SNB Breakers
• St Catherine's
• Sydney Uni
• Tamworth
• UNSW Wests
• UTS Balmain

Local Sport Grants Progam 

We are thrilled to announce that a number of Water Polo NSW clubs have been successful in receiving funding through the NSW Government's Local Sport Grants Program, delivered by the Office of Sport.

Please join us in congratulating the following clubs on their successful applications:

• Gosford Water Polo Club
• Ovens & Murray Water Polo Association Inc
• Pool Pirates Water Polo Club
• Balmain Water Polo Club Inc.
• Narrabri Dolphins Water Polo Club
• Bar In Water Polo Club
• Tamworth Water Polo Association
• Southern Highlands Water Polo

These grants are a fantastic opportunity to strengthen water polo at the grassroots level, supporting clubs to improve facilities, equipment, and programs for their members and communities.

We congratulate all successful clubs and look forward to seeing the positive impact this funding will have across the sport.

Volunteer Grants

The Volunteer Grants Program provides funding ($1,000–$5,000) to support community organisations like water polo clubs by removing barriers to volunteering and increasing participation. Funding can be used for equipment, training, and other volunteer support initiatives, with a national pool of around $10 million available.

To apply, clubs must submit an Expression of Interest through their local Federal MP. Selected organisations are then nominated and invited to submit a full application, which is assessed on eligibility, community impact, and value for money.

Please note - clubs cannot apply directly, you must have nomination by your local MP.

Click here for more information.

Athlete Grant Opportunity – Heading to AYC?

The Australian Sports Commission Local Sporting Champions grant provides $500–$750 to help athletes, coaches and officials aged 12–18 attend state, national or international events, such as the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships. Funding can assist with travel, accommodation and competition costs.

Athletes apply directly online, with the current round closing 30 April 2026, with outcomes announced from June.

Click here to find out how to apply.

Check out what's happening in the WPNSW Community! Have a good news story or information to share? Let us know by emailing enquiries@waterpolonsw.org.au.

Sydney Stingers Beach 4s Wrap-Up

Sydney Stingers Beach 4s returned to Manly Cove in March for a full day of fast games, ocean polo, and community connection.

This year’s event brought together 12 teams, comprising players from 12 different clubs across NSW and the ACT, showing the strong cross-club spirit that continues to make Beach 4s a standout on the calendar.

Congratulations to Mystery Machine for taking out the title, and to runners-up Beach Ballers, a mixed-club team featuring players from Macquarie University, Drummoyne and Sydney Northern Beaches.

Photos from the day, taken by our club photographer Daniel Kirkwood, are now up on our socials.

A big thank you to everyone who played, supported, volunteered, and helped make the day such a success.

Beach 4s will return in November, and we’d love to see clubs from across the community back on the sand with us.

Sydney Stingers Water Polo Seeking Coaches

Sydney Stingers, NSW's LGBTQIA+ inclusive water polo club, is recruiting coaches to support our Senior Metro and social competition programs as part of our ongoing investment in team and coaching development.

We're looking for emerging and experienced coaches who are committed to inclusive sport and developing players across all skill levels, with a strong focus on participation, skill development, and community connection.

Successful candidates will join a collaborative coaching team supporting Metro competitions (Saturday training, Tuesday/Wednesday games) and INTRA, our mixed-gender social competition (Sunday). Flexible availability is welcome.

The club offers coaching development support, paid honoraria, and mentorship opportunities aligned with WPNSW pathways.

Interested coaches are encouraged to reach out to discuss how they can contribute to one of Sydney's most established inclusive water polo communities.

Contact: secretary@sydneystingers.org.au