More than 110 Queenslanders are set to make their state proud this July as they travel to England to take part in the 2024 Touch World Cup.
Taking place from 15-21 July in Nottingham, the sports pinnacle international event will see 12 Australian teams ranging from Open Men’s and Women’s to Men’s 50 represent their country on the world stage.
Making up nearly 40 percent of all athletes selected, 70 players from Queensland will take to the field alongside 36 referees.
Included in that list of athletes are World Cup debutants Jaymon Bob and younger brother Jardel who will play in the Men’s Open side. While this will be his fourth time representing Australia, Jaymon could not be more thrilled to be making his Open World Cup debut next month.
“Obviously it means a lot to be selected for the Australian Emus, and to do it alongside my brother just makes it even more special,” said Bob.
“Touch is a growing sport and to be one of sixteen men across the country selected to represent your state, your family, your mob and whoever has contributed to you getting to this point, means the world.
“To have that emblem on your shirt and to be doing it for the people back home, for the kids that are watching and aspiring to be where we are, is so meaningful,” he said.
Both Jaymon and Jardel are proud to be three-time Indigenous All Stars representatives.
“Jardel and I know each other in and out and it’s just amazing to run on the field with him every time we get the chance, it makes my mum and dad pretty emotional,” Bob said.
“We’ve gone from passing the footy around in the back yard to representing our country at the highest level in our chosen sport, so it’s pretty amazing.
“Playing for the Indigenous All Stars is another opportunity to represent your family and your people. It’s a very deep and spiritual feeling and I feel very lucky to showcase my culture on the big stage.”
At the upcoming World Cup, Jaymon and his team are aiming to execute to the dominant standard displayed by the Australian Emus at the last few World Cup events.
“I’ve experienced a World Cup in the youth system but we only played three teams. This time around there’s eight teams in our pool and about 20 teams in our division, so we’re pretty determined to bring our best footy to the field,” he said.
“The grand goal is to win the World Cup but we’re just looking to take it game at a time, make finals and tick the boxes as we go,” finished Bob.
Seven-time representative of the Indigenous All Stars and a winner of three consecutive Bo de la Cruz medals (female player of the match), UQ Rebels player Rebecca Mi Mi will play alongside captain Kim Sue See who is attending her third World Cup in the open division.
Included in the Men’s 50 team are two former Queensland Touch Football Chairmans, Troy Morgan and Gavin Shuker, the latter of whom has the record for most touchdowns ever scored at a World Cup as well as the most scored in a tournament (36).
Queensland Touch Football wishes to congratulate the following Queensland players, coaching staff, managers and referees who have been selected for the upcoming Touch World Cup.
Women’s Open
Hinerangi Andreassend
Katherine Stevens
Tiarni Bryce
Sammy Jo Curtis
Lucia Fildes
Ashleigh Kearney
Rebecca Mi Mi
Georgina Rackemann
Kim Sue See ©
Rachel Walsh
Swain Rovelli (Coach)
Renee Murphy (Assistant Coach)
Men’s Open
Jayden Benbow
Jardel Bob
Jaymon Bob
James Courtney
Justin Cridland
Shaun Francis
Harry Griffin
Malcolm Kenny
Hayden Moffat
Peter Norman
Jake Notley
Corey Russell
Phil Gyemore (Coach)
Jason Boyd (Assistant Coach)
Tim Villalba (Manager)
Mixed Open
Tim Baartz ©
Olivia Goodsell
Wilson Groth
James Hegedus
James Price
Andrew Searle
Senior Mixed
Justin Otto
Kelly Goodwin
Kelly Jones
Cassandra Vincitorio
Danny Goodwin (Coach)
Mary-Anne Te Amo (Manager)
Women’s 27
Natasha Adams
Marlie Phillips
Jenna Rowsell
Courtney Trenerry
Dave Crase (Coach)
Tim Gall (Manager)
Men’s 30
Ken Adams
Liam Bauer
Jordan Dart
Tim Glazebrook
Trevor Moran
Tommy Quinlivan
David Sen
James Sharp
Ethan Sorrell
Dave Zanette
Women’s 35
Serena Albert
Laura Bain
Therese Gordon
Kelly Kennedy
Kellie Piltz
Katie Shaw
Jasmine Spittall
Rebecca Thomsen
Pia Galon
Men’s 35
Khanui Cox
Jesse Green
Patrick Horgan
Chris Jordan
Taki Luke
Joshua McCormack
Brad Powell
Chris Loth (Coach)
Gary Benbow (Assistant Coach)
Women’s 40
Kate Barker
Kylie Bellingham
Davina Galetto
Zara Hartley
Kellie Ryan
Missy Shaw
Leeanne Bauer (Coach)
Men’s 40
Jasbir Singh Bhullar
Mark Cecil
Remus Gentles
Nathan Jones
Aaron Jones
Steven Murray
Troy Nichols
Nick Pacchiar (Coach)
Mark Edwards (Assistant Coach)
Mitchell Higgins (Manager)
Men’s 45
Matthew Bowe
Justin Loomans
Adam Page
Dean Taylor
Men’s 50
Troy Morgan
Craig Neilan
Gavin Shuker
Moses Choy (Manager)
Referees
Linda Buchanan
Lachlan Carey
Zoe Cornish
Michael Donato
Michael Genrich
Reef Gilbert-Marino
Jacob Gregg
Miriam Hunt
Craig Jeffs
Bree-Ann Lo Grande
Douglas Mackie
Sitha Mead
Damien Miller
Joshua North
James Roe
Lee Rossow
William Schatz
Trevor Schelberg
Chelsey Wilks
Riley Wotton
Lachlan Freshwater
Zoe Genrich
Zac Genrich
John Hamstra
Michael Landsberg
Matt Lavery
Michael Littlefield
Craig Mckee
Campbell Muir
Fiona Quinn
Jordan Randle
Kurtis Sankey
Alanah Sinclair
Ant Smith
Brad Smith
Paul Sullivan
Terri Alexander (Thomas)
Charlise Falconer
