Sydney, Australia: Australian Powerchair Football Association (APFA) has announced the Australian Poweroos squad that will defend the Asia Pacific Oceania (APO) Powerchair Football Cup Champions title in Brisbane, AU from 15 to 17 October 2025.
Following a training camp held in Sydney, AU during July 2025, eight players have been selected for the Poweroos squad to represent Australia at the 2025 Asia Pacific Oceania (APO) Cup in Brisbane this October.
Santo Bongiovanni (South Australia), Luke David (Victoria), Rebecca Evans (Victoria), Chris Hastas (NSW), Dimitri Liolio-Davis (NSW), Jack Parry (QLD), Tristam Peters (QLD) and Ryan Seck (NSW) are in the squad to defend the APO Cup Champion title, secured in 2019.
“This squad represents the perfect blend of experience and exciting new talent,” said Robert Wright, Head Coach of the Australian Poweroos. “We’re thrilled to welcome four debut players who bring fresh energy to the group, alongside seasoned athletes who know what it takes to compete at the highest level. The team is focused, hungry, and ready to defend our title on home soil.”
“It’s always an honour to wear the green and gold,” said Rebecca Evans, Poweroos player. “This team means everything to me, the commitment, the community, the chance to play the sport I love at the highest level. We’ve been training hard, and I can’t wait to hit the court in Brisbane and show how far we’ve come.”
The squad includes four players making their senior Poweroos debut – Bongiovanni, Hastas, Parry and Seck. Poweroo veteran and Vice-Captain, Josh Merkas, recently announced his retirement from international level competition following a long and decorated career that included five international tournaments with the Poweroos team.
During September, the Poweroos squad will complete a training camp in Melbourne, before arriving in Brisbane a few days ahead of the competition for a final camp to consolidate their game plan.
The 2025 APO Cup will be held at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena from 15 to 17 October 2025. It brings the National Powerchair Football teams from Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Australia together, with the winner crowned as APO Champions.
The two top teams from the 2025 APO Cup will qualify for the 2026 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup to be held in Argentina.
The 2025 APO Cup will be the third time Australia has hosted this event, with the last APO Cup held in Sydney, where the Poweroos secured the Champions title after remaining undefeated.
Media Contact: Kristy Yeadon, APFA President, 0408 884385, president@apfa.org.au
About:
Australian Powerchair Football Association (APFA) is a FIPFA-affiliated body, allowing Australia to compete in and host international level competitions. APFA and Australia have hosted both APO Cup tournaments in 2013 and 2019 and the FIPFA World Cup in 2023.
Fédération Internationale de Powerchair Football Association (FIPFA) is the peak international body for Powerchair Football.
The Australian Poweroos are Australia’s national Powerchair Football team. Currently ranked sixth (6th) in the world, and first (1st) in the region, they represent Australia on the international stage and have competed at various international tournaments at regional and global level. Established in 2011, they debuted at the 2011 FIPFA World Cup in Paris with a seventh (7th) place finish and have rapidly ascended in international Powerchair football with fourth (4th) place at the 2017 World Cup in Florida. For more information and results, see https://apfa.org.au/australian-poweroos/
At the highest level of competition, Australia’s Powerchair Football athletes compete without the support of national or governing body funding. The Poweroos are entirely self-funded, with costs borne by the players and their families.
There is a genuine opportunity to stand behind this remarkable team. To support the Poweroos and help lift them onto the world stage, please contact the Australian Powerchair Football Association (APFA) by email: president@apfa.org.au
Poweroos players will be available for interview at the upcoming training camps in Melbourne in September and Brisbane in October.
For team photos: https://www.apfa.org.au/gallery/#
Rules of Powerchair Football and Court set up can be found at: https://www.apfa.org.au/documents/
APFA supports responsible reporting in media. Our athletes and community members are redefining “diversity” and what is possible when you focus on “ability”. How people with a disability are portrayed in the media matters and we encourage all journalists and media outlets to refer to Media Diversity Australia’s “Disability Reporting Handbook”: https://www.mediadiversityaustralia.org/disability-reporting-handbook/
Image – Sebastian Giunta – www.sgphotographics.com
Image – Sebastian Giunta – www.sgphotographics.com