Meet Australia’s Deaf Rugby Teams Before They Head To Tokyo

Deaf Rugby
Photo credit: Facebook/Australian Deaf Rugby

Australian Deaf Rugby’s men’s and women’s national squads will open their final Sydney training session to the public before travelling to Japan for the World Deaf Rugby Sevens Championship.


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The Australian Deaf Rugby Community Day, Training and Send-Off is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, at Trumper Park Oval in Paddington. The event listing gives a 1pm start, although Australian Deaf Rugby’s website lists the session from 2pm to 5pm. Attendees should check the event organisers’ latest updates before travelling.

A final training session before Tokyo

Photo credit: Facebook/Australian Deaf Rugby

The free gathering will give supporters an opportunity to watch the national squads train, meet players, coaches and support staff, and learn about opportunities for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people in rugby.

Games are planned, with organisers also hoping to offer giveaways. An Auslan interpreter will be on site, and families, schools, clubs and community groups are encouraged to attend.

The teams are due to depart for Japan on the evening of October 28, according to Deaf Connect’s event announcement. The gathering will provide a chance for Sydney supporters to meet the athletes and wish them well before their international campaign.

Australia’s teams take on the world

The third World Deaf Rugby Sevens Championship is scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan, with the official tournament website listing matches from October 31 to November 3, 2026. Australian Deaf Rugby’s website gives a broader tournament period of October 30 to November 5, so readers should consult the official schedule for confirmed match dates.

The competition will feature men’s and women’s rugby sevens, bringing Deaf rugby teams from around the world together in Japan. Deaf Connect’s event announcement says Australia’s squads are preparing to compete against 14 other Deaf rugby nations.

About Deaf Rugby

Photo credit: Facebook/Australian Deaf Rugby

Australian Deaf Rugby was founded in Sydney in 2001 to establish a national representative platform for Deaf and hard-of-hearing rugby players. The volunteer-led organisation has grown into a national program supporting men’s and women’s teams competing internationally.

The organisation is a member of Deaf Sports Australia and participates in the Australian Deaf Games and Oceania Deaf Games, held every four years. These competitions contribute to player development and help strengthen connections within the Deaf sporting community.


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Organisers have asked attendees to mark themselves as going or interested on the Facebook event page to help estimate attendance.

Event details

  • What: Australian Deaf Rugby Community Day, Training and Send-Off
  • When: Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Check the event listing for the latest start time.
  • Where: Trumper Park Oval, near Hampden Street and Glenmore Road, Paddington
  • Cost: Free
  • Accessibility: An Auslan interpreter will be on site

Published 11-October-2026


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