UC Honey Badgers Win Ultimate Title at Home

The University of Canterbury Honey Badgers have been crowned the 2026 NZ Tertiary Ultimate Champions after two days of competition at Hagley Park South in Christchurch.

Nine mixed teams representing six universities took to the field over the weekend of 29–30 August, battling for national honours in a weekend of great conditions as the sun shone bright on Saturday while the wind made things a little trickier on Sunday.

The home side proved too strong all weekend, with the Honey Badgers going through the weekend undefeated, capped by a thrilling 31-12 victory on universe point over the University of Otago Toroa.

Last year’s champions the University of Auckland Flood defeated the University of Waikato to claim bronze while AUT finished in fifth, the UC Pythons took sixth, Victoria University of Wellington seventh, Otago Hoiho eighth and Auckland Flow rounding out the competition in ninth.

The Honey Badgers' success was made even more memorable by their recognition as the Most Spirited Team as voted by their opposition throughout the tournament, adding another accolade to their championship-winning weekend.

Individual awards recognised outstanding performances from across the field. The University of Otago Hoiho's Oli Pitts was named Male MVP, while AUT's Kate Boardsworth was awarded Female MVP. AUT's Dakota Devoy was also recognised as the Most Spirited Player (MSP) for their individual contribution to each match and the tournament as a whole.

The NZ Tertiary Ultimate Championships provided another opportunity for student-athletes from across Aotearoa to compete at a national level while celebrating the unique combination of competition, inclusivity and sportsmanship that makes ultimate such an important part of the tertiary sporting landscape.

Congratulations to the UC Honey Badgers on their championship victory, and to all athletes, teams, officials and volunteers who contributed to a successful weekend at Hagley Park South.

Check out all of our action shots from the weekend over on our Flickr page, and re-watch the live stream on our YouTube channel.