UNSW Sport March Recap

March was a significant month across the UNSW sporting community, featuring professional debuts, national titles, strong early season form and major recognition of our student-athletes. Across rugby, water polo, football, basketball, athletics and more, UNSW athletes continued to perform at a high level both domestically and internationally.

UNSW elite athlete Sidney Harvey reached a major milestone in March, making his Super Rugby debut for the NSW Waratahs at Allianz Stadium against the Hurricanes. The 20-year-old outside back entered the match in the 59th minute, becoming Waratahs cap number 1773 and marking the beginning of his professional career at one of Australia’s premier rugby franchises. Originally from Narrabri in regional New South Wales, Harvey’s rise has been rapid. A graduate of Narrabri High School, he progressed through the Waratahs Academy before being promoted to the senior squad ahead of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season. Alongside his studies at UNSW, where he is completing a Bachelor of Science and Education, Harvey has also represented Australia in both the national Sevens program and the Junior Wallabies, further highlighting his potential as one of the country’s emerging rugby talents. Sidney capped off an incredible month also being awarded a Vice-Chancellor’s Blues Award.

UNSW Wests Magpies claimed the Australian Water Polo League championship for the ninth time, defeating Cronulla 17–13 to secure back-to-back titles and complete an undefeated 2026 season. Cronulla opened the scoring, but the Magpies responded through Matthew Byrnes (UNSW Elite Athlete Program), who levelled early from the perimeter. UNSW Wests then controlled possession through disciplined six on five execution, with Nic Bicari creating consistent opportunities at centre forward and captain Nathan Power (UNSW graduate) directing play across all four quarters. They created separation in the second quarter, with Byrnes scoring in consecutive possessions, while John Hedges (UNSW Elite Athlete Program) and Timothy Putt (UNSW graduate) contributed to maintaining structure through the middle of the pool. Cronulla reduced the margin in the third, but UNSW Wests responded each time to close out the match. Seven players were also selected in Australian squads, including Matthew Byrnes, John Hedges, Nathan Power, Timothy Putt, Nicholas Bicari, Luke Pavillard and Dylan Woodhead.

UNSW FC Women’s First Grade NPL side have made a standout start to their 2026 season, sitting second on the ladder after five rounds following an impressive run of results. The side opened their campaign with a 1–0 away win over Western City Rangers, with Alexia Karrys-Stahl scoring the decisive early goal. They returned to The Village Green in Round 2 and played out a 2–2 draw with Western Sydney Wanderers, with Karrys-Stahl again on the scoresheet alongside a second UNSW contributor in an open contest. UNSW continued to build momentum in Round 3 with a 1–0 win over Illawarra Stingrays, before their attack came to life in Round 4 with a 4–0 win over Bulls FC Academy, featuring multiple contributors on the scoresheet. That form carried into Round 5, where UNSW secured a 4–1 win over Northern Tigers, again sharing the goals across the squad. Across five rounds, UNSW have conceded just three goals, with a disciplined defensive unit and the presence of new goalkeeper Erin Nayler proving key to their early success. Arriving from Bayern Munich, Nayler’s experience and composure have added another layer of confidence behind the defence as the side continues to build momentum.

UNSW FC Men’s First Grade have made a competitive and increasingly confident start to their first season in the NPL NSW competition, navigating a challenging opening nine rounds against established top-flight opposition. The side opened their campaign with a 5–2 loss to Sydney United 58, before another tight contest in Round 2 ended in a 2–1 defeat to Wollongong Wolves, showing early signs they could compete at the level. They picked up their first point in Round 3 with a 1–1 draw against SD Raiders, before falling 2–0 to St George FC. UNSW then delivered one of their most complete early performances in Round 5, holding Marconi Stallions to a 2–2 draw, demonstrating their ability to match it with one of the competition’s benchmark teams. After a narrow 1–0 loss to Sutherland Sharks, UNSW broke through in Round 7 with a 2–0 away win over Sydney FC, their first victory in the topflight. That momentum carried into Round 8 with a dominant 5–0 win over St George City, showcasing their attacking quality. Despite a 2–1 loss to NWS Spirit FC in Round 9, UNSW have shown clear progression, with the side continuing to adjust to the demands of top-tier competition.

The UNSW sporting community came together on March 4 for the Active Women in Sport Awards, held at the Lounge ahead of International Women’s Day. The evening celebrated the athletes, clubs and leaders helping drive progress for women in sport across the University, while reflecting on the continued impact of UNSW’s Active Women in Sport Plan, launched in 2020 as part of the University’s Sport Strategy. With a record number of nominations and strong attendance from athletes, administrators and senior University leadership, the event highlighted the growth of women’s participation and leadership across campus sport. The SHE CAN Award was presented to Campus Runners for their inclusive beginner run sessions, while Rasleen Singh was named First Year Star for launching the popular SHE CAN Karate program. The UNSW Hockey Club claimed Outstanding Club honours for the second consecutive year. Jessi Miley-Dyer received the Trailblazer Award, and former Basketball Club president Xanthe Fitzgerald was recognised with the Champion Award for her leadership in growing women’s basketball at UNSW.

Three UNSW elite athletes Emily Nguyen, Jasinta Haydardedeoglu and Kirsty Gill have taken an exciting step in their basketball journeys after being selected to play for the Sydney Comets. The trio will step up to compete in the NBL1 East, one of Australia’s premier state-based competitions and a key pathway into the professional ranks. All three players have been standout contributors within the UNSW basketball program. Nguyen and Haydardedeoglu previously represented UNSW in the Women’s Division 1 team at the UniSport 3x3 Nationals, while Gill has also been a consistent performer in university competitions and club basketball. Their selection to the Comets highlights the strength of the UNSW basketball pathway, with the move providing an opportunity to test themselves against elite talent across the NBL1 East competition. As they step into the higher-level environment, the trio will gain valuable experience competing against some of the best emerging players in the country.

UNSW Rugby took part in the Subbies Rugby Xs tournament to open their 2026 campaign, using the fast-paced format as a chance to build combinations and get early minutes into the squads. The women’s team finished the day with one win from three matches but ended the tournament on a high with a dominant 26–5 victory over Colleagues in their final game. It was a valuable hit-out for the group ahead of the Subbies season, with plenty of positives to take from the tournament. In the Colts division, UNSW also had success, finishing the day as Mosman Cup runners-up after a strong run through the competition.

Jacob Preston has made an immediate impact to start the 2026 NRL season, playing a key role in the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ strong opening across the first five rounds. Preston featured in the club’s Round 1 season opener in Las Vegas, setting the tone for a fast start that saw the Bulldogs win their opening two matches. Across the opening rounds, the Bulldogs built an early 2–0 record before dropping games against Newcastle and South Sydney, sitting at 2–2 through four matches before Round 5. Individually, Preston has been one of the Bulldogs’ most effective forwards. He crossed for tries in Round 1 against St George Illawarra and again in Round 3 against Canberra, where he backed up through the middle to score in the second half. He finished the opening rounds with two tries, leading the club in that category, while averaging close to 90 running metres and over 35 tackles per game. His early season form has been a continuation of his breakout 2025 campaign, reinforcing his importance within the Bulldogs’ forward pack as they look to build momentum through the opening stretch of the season.

UNSW Basketball competed in the inaugural Vegagroup Basketball Challenge, a round robin intervarsity series bringing together UNSW, USYD, UTS and Macquarie across multiple weeks at the Sydney Uni Sports and Aquatic Centre. The format delivered consistent, high level match play, with both UNSW men’s and women’s teams tested across three rounds. The women’s side set the tone early, edging USYD Colleges 55–53 in Round 1 before producing one of the most dominant results of the series in Round 2, defeating the same opposition 88–46 behind a fast paced offensive performance. They carried that form into Round 3, pushing UTS in a high scoring contest before falling 79–70. The men’s team were challenged from the outset against a strong USYD lineup across the opening rounds, using those matchups to build cohesion and adjust their offensive structure. In Round 3, they faced an in form UTS side, going down 105–61 against a team that capitalised in transition and from the perimeter. With finals set for April 17 between USYD and UTS, the inaugural Vega Cup has quickly established itself as a competitive addition to the Sydney university sport calendar.

Avaani Prakash was recognised with Assist of the Month, highlighting her impact in the final third during a strong run of form with the Central Coast Mariners FC Women. The Mariners have been firmly in the finals race, sitting around the middle of the ladder and pushing for a top six finish in a tightly contested season, with results fluctuating but remaining competitive against leading sides.  Operating in attacking areas, Prakash has consistently created chances, with her awarded assist reflecting composure in possession and decision making under pressure as the Mariners continue to fight for a finals position late in the campaign. Her form carried into international selection with the Australia women's national under-20 soccer team at the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup, where Australia opened with back to back 5–0 wins over Chinese Taipei and India. The tournament remains ongoing with final group match against Japan tomorrow, with the Young Matildas well placed heading into the knockout stages as they push for World Cup qualification.

Tamsin Colley delivered a strong performance at the NSW Open Championships, taking gold in the women’s 800m para event with a controlled run before backing it up with a silver in the women’s 400m para event. She will next compete at UniSport Nationals Athletics on the Gold Coast, where she will look to continue her success and build on her gold medal, record-breaking performances from last year.

The UNSW Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs opened their 2026 season with a strong showing against the Manly Wolves, highlighted by dominant performances across multiple grades. The U19.5 side secured a 58–42 win, setting the tone early in the day, before the Men’s Division 1 team delivered an emphatic 84–25 victory. The club’s Women’s Premier League squad continued the momentum with a commanding 54–15 win, showcasing their control across the ground and efficiency in front of goal. The only setback came in the Men’s Premier League match, where the Bulldogs fell 89–77 in a high-scoring contest despite a competitive performance.

Seventeen of UNSW’s top student-athletes were recognised at the Vice-Chancellor’s Blues Awards in the Council Chambers, one of the University’s most prestigious sporting honours. With only around 700 Blues awarded in its 65-year history, the night celebrated those performing at the highest level while balancing study. Vice-Chancellor Professor Attila Brungs praised recipients for their ability to excel across both arenas. This year’s Blues were awarded to Caleb Yong (Fencing), Charlotte Wilson (Freestyle Mogul Skiing), Chloe Jackson (Rugby League), Christopher Geordas (Athletics), James Rowbottom (AFL), Kaitryel Pelaez (Basketball), Logan Campbell (Triathlon), Lucas Velasque (Handball), Lucy Coleman (Rowing), Madeline Hendrie (AFLW), Montana Ham (AFLW), Osama Almabrouk (Taekwondo), Sidney Harvey (Rugby Union), Sienna Stephens (Fencing), Timothy Putt (Water Polo), Vanessa Lam (Taekwondo) and Zeno Radnoti (Fencing). The night brought together athletes, families and staff to recognise the work behind their achievements.

March showed just how much quality there is across the UNSW sporting community, with athletes stepping up at every level and strong results coming early in the year. There’s real momentum building across multiple sports, and if this month is anything to go by, there’s plenty more to come in 2026.