2023 Bundaberg Cup set to be the biggest yet!

This year the Bundaberg Cup touch football competition will be the biggest yet, as 80 teams have already registered for the premiere event.

Described as one of Australia’s richest touch football competitions, the event is set to attract hundreds of competitors to the Bundaberg Region next month for the ninth community sporting experience.

Queensland Touch Football’s Rachael Harpur said there were a number of contributing factors that helped grow the numbers this year.

“We are currently at 80 team registrations, which is the largest in the history of the event, (this) is super exciting,” she said.

“I think there are multiple things that has contributed to this.”

“Mostly, I believe it is because we now have Game Development Officers in the region proactively pushing the development of touch football in the local area, which forms part of our overarching Queensland Touch Football Strategic Plan to grow the sport.”

The Bundaberg Cup is a social community touch football event which has been held in Bundaberg since 2015, by Touch Football Australia and Queensland Touch Football.

The competition caters for elite to social players in open divisions and provides development opportunities for junior teams. Last year Bundaberg Cup kicked goals for the region’s economy with 777 competitors in 52 teams take to the field to compete.

While the event provided an opportunity for local teams to vie for the top prize, it also saw 71 per cent of attendees travel from outside of the region.

Supported by Bundaberg Regional Council since its inception, the funding has been approved under a three-year partnership agreement which will see $60,000 in assistance delivered to the Bundaberg Cup to 2024.

Rachael said it was pleasing to see touch football grow across the regions and this year Queensland Touch Football has also organised for players to meet at the local beach prior to the competition starting.

“We have organised a beach activation on Friday afternoon at the Bundaberg Surf Club which we’re really excited about. This is an opportunity for anyone in the local area who may want to ‘try’ touch football to come along and join us at the beach for some fun. We welcome all ages and abilities.” she said.