Inaugural Fluidra Australia Cup hailed a resounding success

The inaugural Fluidra Australia Cup for water polo made waves at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in January, bringing together eight clubs from four Australian states, as well as representation from New Zealand and Singapore.

The landmark event was designed to provide up-and-coming players with the opportunity to experience high-level, international competition which is critical for their ongoing development.

The competition provided emerging talent with a professional and high-intensity competition environment, exceeding expectations and drawing attention both nationally and internationally. Livestreams were broadcast to multiple countries, showcasing the event to a global audience.

Champions crowned in a thrilling competition

In the men’s final, the New Zealand U20s national team edged out the Canberra Krakens 9 to 7 in a tight contest. On the women’s side, Sydney University claimed victory over the Singapore women’s national team. Imogen Hicks (Sydney University) and Cole Phillips (New Zealand) were named MVPs of the tournament.

The tournament was not only praised for its high-level competition but also for the professionalism of its organisation, including top-tier refereeing and seamless event management, setting up the Fluidra Australia Cup as a new benchmark for water polo tournaments in the region.

“It was a great event,” says organiser Matt Turnball. “We were very happy with how it panned out and are grateful to our sponsors, such as Fluidra, for making this event happen.”

As well as sponsoring the event, Fluidra supplied the lane ropes and goals through subsidiary Anti Wave.

Jeremy Smith from Fluidra emphasises the company’s commitment to the sport.

“Fluidra is honoured to support local water polo clubs and players, providing them with a structured pathway and a fun experience while helping to build our future athletes,” he says.

Exciting plans for December’s edition

The Fluidra Australia Cup is poised to become a major fixture in the global water polo calendar, with the next edition set for December 2025, once again in Canberra at the AIS.

With growing international interest, teams from South Africa, Kazakhstan, and other nations are keen to join the action. Plans are also underway to introduce additional elements to enhance the tournament experience.

IMAGE: Sydney Uni and Singapore battle it out in the women's final (Supplied)