The New Zealand Men’s Touch Blacks have delivered a historic victory, defeating Australia in a dramatic grand final to claim the inaugural Asia Pacific Opens Touch Cup title.

The win marks New Zealand’s first major international touch title in 13 years, ending a long wait and signalling a powerful resurgence on the world stage.

Held in Mudgee at the Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex, the 2026 tournament brought together more than 500 players from 15 countries, highlighting the rapid growth and competitiveness of touch rugby internationally.

New Zealand fielded teams in the Men’s, Women’s and Mixed divisions, with all three sides advancing to their respective finals. The Women’s and Mixed teams both secured silver medals after strong campaigns, falling to Australia in closely contested matches.

But it was the Men’s side who delivered a performance to remember.

After falling behind 4–1 in the final, the Touch Blacks mounted a remarkable comeback, clawing their way back into the match and forcing extra time in a tense drop-off.

In the decisive moment, tournament standout TamaToa Ropati created the winning play, setting up Vice-Captain Ifor Jones to score the match-winning try and seal a famous victory on Australian soil.

The result caps off a statement performance from the squad, showcasing depth, resilience and belief against one of the sport’s strongest rivals.

The breakthrough triumph also sets the tone for the future of the programme, with attention now turning toward the 2028 Touch World Cup, which will be hosted in New Zealand.

The victory not only secures New Zealand’s place in history as the first Asia Pacific champions, but also provides a major boost for the sport at home, inspiring the next generation of players across Aotearoa.

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