Sydney Uni secured the title in the men’s competition at the 2026 Australian Handball Club Championships and will represent Oceania at the 2026 IHF Men’s Club World Championship, while the University of Queensland were crowned champions in the women’s competition, sealing back-to-back-to-back titles, after winning in 2024 and in 2025.

Eight men’s teams and five women’s teams lined up at the start of the competition, which took place at the Sportz Central Indoor Stadium in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, between 27 and 31 May 2026.

The men’s sides were divided into two groups of four teams each, while the women’s sides played in a round-robin format, with the top two sides progressing to the final, while the third and fourth placed sides competing in the bronze medal match.

In the men’s competition, Group A was dominated by reigning champions Sydney Uni, which took a 32:21 win over Saint Kilda HC, a 27:15 win over Gold Coast HC and a 41:19 win over University of New South Wales HC. Saint Kilda finished second, with a dramatic draw against Gold Coast HC, 24:24, finishing with a better goal difference (-1 to -9) than their rivals.

Group B was dominated by Canberra HC, which took a crucial win against former champions University of Queensland HC, 28:19, in the second round, after having previously won against the University of Technology Sydney HC, 40:28. Their third win came against Maiden Gully, 27:12. The second place in Group B was sealed by UTS HC.

In the first semi-final, Sydney-Uni delivered a clear 34:19 win against UTS HC, while Canberra had to sweat against Saint Kilda HC, after being tied at the break, 12:12, only to secure the win in the second half, 24:20.

However, there was no question about the winner of the final, with Sydney-Uni delivering a pitch perfect match. After a 16:9 lead at the break, the reigning champions scored 24 goals in the second half to secure a clear 40:22 win and a new title.

It was Sydney Uni’s 10th win in the Australian Handball Club Championships since 2014 and the fourth in the last five years, as the Australian side will now represent Oceania once again at the IHF Men’s Club World Championship.

The bronze medal was won by UTS HC, with a narrow 32:31 win over Saint Kilda HC. 

In the women’s competition, the five teams played in a round-robin format, with the top side progressing to the final, while the second and third-placed sides featured in a single semi-final.

Reigning champions University of Queensland HC were the top side in the group phase, winning all their matches, starting with a 33:15 win against UNSW HC, following up with a 27:15 win over Canberra HC and a crucial 20:17 win over Sydney-Uni. Another win against UTS HC, 25:19, was the decider, as UQ HC made it to the final.

Therefore, UTS HC and Sydney Uni faced off in a do-or-die semi-final, where UTS controlled the match, leading 14:9 at the break and winning, 27:22, clinching their place in the final.

However, a clinical performance from UQ in the last act provided the launchpad for the third title in three years, limiting their opponents to only four goals in the first half, 9:4, to build upon a 20:12 win.

Credit photo: Australia Handball