Welcome to our new website. Please bear with US as we continue to add new content and information
latest News
Tamworth Regional Council: Tamworth to Host 2025 Koori Knockout
06
December 2024
Tamworth Regional Council: Tamworth to Host 2025 Koori Knockout

The 2025 Koori Knockout is coming to Tamworth, with the city set to host one of the largest gatherings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the country. Scheduled to take place over the October long weekend, from October 3 to October 6, this prestigious event will unite players, supporters, and spectators in a celebration of sport, culture, and community.

The 2025 Koori Knockout is coming to Tamworth, with the city set to host one of the largest gatherings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the country. Scheduled to take place over the October long weekend, from October 3 to October 6, this prestigious event will unite players, supporters, and spectators in a celebration of sport, culture, and community.

The honour of hosting the event was secured by WAC, who triumphed at the 2024 Koori Knockout in Bathurst. By winning back-to-back titles, Walgett earned the right to nominate Tamworth as the venue for the next tournament.

The Koori Knockout has grown to be one of the largest Indigenous sporting events in the world. In 2024, the tournament featured an extraordinary 138 teams, including current and former NRL and NRLW stars, showcasing the immense talent and passion within First Nations communities. The event attracted a live audience of 30,000 attendees and reached an impressive 500,000 viewers through television broadcasts, underlining its importance to the wider Australian public.

Beyond the action on the field, the event creates a significant positive impact for its host region. The 2024 tournament in Bathurst delivered an estimated $10 million economic boost for the region, benefiting local businesses, accommodation providers, and community organisations. Similar benefits are expected for Tamworth, as the city prepares to welcome thousands of visitors for this vibrant and culturally significant event.

George Rose, former NRL player and representative for WAC, has expressed his excitement about the upcoming tournament.

“The Koori Knockout is the best weekend of the year there’s no denying that win or lose there is no feeling like being at the knockout getting to watch our people show the world our own style of footy, it’s raw, its exciting, it’s tough, we see the best tries and the biggest hits.

Everybody comes from across the state and the community joy is what we love the most. We could be knocked out first round and still have our greatest weekend of the year because it’s not only about the footy.

It’s about family.It’s about community. It’s about culture. The footy brings us all together but it’s the spirit of the weekend as a whole that makes us love it so much. WAC is proud to bring the tournament to Tamworth, this is the first chance we have had to defend our title on Gamilaroi country since it was held in Walgett over 30 years ago. We are proud to be back on Gamilaroi country with our people and representing WAC on the greatest weekend of the year."

Tamworth Regional Council General Manager Paul Bennett says the city is excited to host such a large-scale sporting event

“This is an exciting opportunity for the Tamworth Region, with an estimated 20,000 visitors expected to visit the region across the four days of the event.

Local workers and businesses will benefit from the increase in visitation, with an estimated total impact of more than $5.2 million and the creation of 29 jobs for the duration of the event.” Paul says.

The tournament is more than a competition; it is a celebration of culture, resilience, and community spirit. Tamworth, with its deep connections to Gomeroi culture and heritage, provides a fitting stage for the event. Organizers are collaborating with Gomeroi leaders to ensure the tournament reflects and respects the traditions of the land and its people.

The 2025 Koori Knockout is set to continue its proud tradition of uniting communities, honouring cultural heritage, and celebrating the strength and skill of First Nations people.

Event Details:

• What: 2025 Koori Knockout

• When: October 3 – October 6, 2025

• Where: Riverside Sporting Complex Tamworth, NSW.

2024 Koori Knockout Winners:

• Men: WAC• Women: Redfern All Blacks

• U17 Girls: Waterloo Storm

• U15 Girls: Newcastle Yowies

• U17 Boys: La Perouse Panthers

• U15 Boys: Mindaribba Warriors

• U13 Boys: La Perouse Panther

MEDIA CONTACT: Georgia Vaughan, Public Relations Specialist, 0419 727 787