University of Auckland Flood Return to the Top at the NZ Tertiary Ultimate Championships

The 2025 New Zealand Tertiary Ultimate Championships concluded on Sunday at a wet and windy Lloyd Elsmore Park in Auckland, with the University of Auckland’s Flood claiming the national title after a thrilling weekend of competition in tough conditions.

The tournament featured 10 teams from seven universities nationwide, including the University of Auckland (Flood, Flash, Flow), AUT, University of Waikato, Massey University, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Canterbury (Honey Badgers, Pythons), and the University of Otago Toroa. Across two the days, plenty of supporters joined the athletes on the sidelines as there were numerous close contests, high levels of athleticism, and the spirit and camaraderie that characterises Ultimate.

This year’s event was hosted by the University of Auckland Ultimate Club, whose efforts ensured the smooth delivery of competition and a memorable experience for the athletes and their fans. Special mention goes to the event volunteers including students from nearby secondary schools, with their energy to maintain the flow of the event despite the wind and rain a key to the event’s success.

In the final, Flood were up against the University of Otago Toroa, with both teams showcasing resilience and skill as the disc was caught easily and often by the unrelenting wind. University of Auckland Ultimate Club president and Flood player Rory Hammond was cautiously optimistic heading into the final, but wary of the dangerous and consistent Toroa team. “We knew Otago were a team capable of dominating this tournament despite some key losses to their roster, and this was especially felt when they broke us upwind in the opening points.”

Flood rallied in response to an energised Toroa team to earn an upwind break, and from this point the Flood O-line settled their squad to begin a dominant period of about 20-30 minutes in which they scored several quick points to gain control of the match. After a predictably strong fightback from Toroa, Flood eventually converted match point to Braden Jones in the back corner of the end zone, sparking raucous celebrations after a long weekend of Ultimate. The victory secures their place at the top of New Zealand tertiary Ultimate for 2025, while Toroa depart with pride after another strong campaign.

“I'm really stoked how our typically quiet team stayed loud and proud through the early wobbles and returned the pressure 2-fold. It meant a lot to us to bring it home, especially knowing how we'd come so close to missing out in the past” explained Rory.

With the conclusion of the 2025 Championships, attention now turns to preparations for next year, as universities begin building towards another season of growth and spirited competition. You can re-watch the live stream replay on UTSNZ TV, and follow along with the race to the overall shield as the National Tertiary Championship Series heads into the final two events of the year.