Players Scholarships 2026 Recipients Announced
We’re proud to announce the Players Scholarships 2026 recipients.
After receiving more than 600 applications from young athletes across New Zealand, the selection process has been both inspiring and incredibly difficult.
Players Scholarships exist to support young New Zealand athletes aged 10-15 who are committed to their sport and putting in the work at school and club level.
While only 12 athletes can be selected each year, the quality of applications confirmed something we already believed - the future of junior sport in New Zealand is in good hands.
Below are the Players Scholarships 2026 recipients.
Players Scholarships 2026 Recipients
Cricket
Gray-Nicolls Scholarship
Noah Townrow
Kookaburra Scholarship
Ollie Peachey
Football
adidas Scholarship
Lexi Hedington
New Balance Scholarship
Joshua Daniels
Hockey
Grays Scholarship
Ollie Alabaster
Kookaburra Scholarship
Kalara Green
Netball
ASICS Scholarship
Ailey Ale
adidas Scholarship
Katana Nomis Wilson
Rugby / Rugby League
adidas Scholarship
Elliot Chan Chui
ASICS Scholarship
Lucah Lealaisalanoa
Tennis
Babolat Scholarship
Isabella Cheung Javurek
Wilson Scholarship
Louis Krafft
What Players Scholarships Are About
Players Scholarships were created by Players Sports to help remove barriers for young athletes who are serious about their sport.
Each scholarship provides gear support from leading performance brands, helping recipients train and compete with confidence throughout the year.
The programme focuses on athletes who demonstrate:
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Commitment to training
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Positive attitude and teamwork
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Clear sporting goals
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A genuine passion for their sport
It’s not about social media profiles or hype. It’s about backing young athletes who are already putting in the work.
A Thank You to Our Brand Partners
Players Scholarships would not exist without the support of our brand partners.
A genuine thank you to:
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ASICS (via Brittain Wynyard)
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Gray-Nicolls
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Kookaburra
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adidas
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New Balance
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Babolat
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Wilson
Their willingness to contribute meaningfully to junior sport in New Zealand makes this programme possible.
A Note to Every Athlete Who Applied
With over 600 applications, selecting just 12 recipients was never going to be easy.
To every athlete who took the time to reflect on their sport and submit an application in their own words - thank you.
The effort, honesty and ambition shown in those applications says a lot about the future of sport in this country.
What Happens Next
Players Scholarships run for 12 months, with recipients receiving gear support from their scholarship brand partner during the programme.
We’re looking forward to following their progress and sharing parts of their journeys throughout the year.
Players Scholarships 2026 - Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Players Scholarships?
Players Scholarships are a gear-supported athlete development programme run by Players Sports to support young New Zealand athletes aged 10-15 across multiple sports.
How many Players Scholarships are awarded each year?
A total of 12 scholarships are awarded each year across six sports: cricket, football, hockey, netball, rugby/rugby league and tennis.
What do scholarship recipients receive?
Recipients receive sport-specific performance gear support from the scholarship brand partner, helping them train and compete throughout the programme.
Who can apply for Players Scholarships?
Players Scholarships are open to New Zealand-based athletes aged 10-15 competing at school, club, academy or representative level.
How are Players Scholarships selected?
Applications are reviewed by the Players Sports team, with input from brand partners where appropriate. Selection focuses on:
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Commitment to sport
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Attitude and teamwork
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Sporting goals and development
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Where gear support will genuinely help
When will the next Players Scholarships open?
Applications for the next Players Scholarships intake are expected to open in early 2027.