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The Brisbane Veterans Rugby League Football Club team has claimed victory in the 2025 Veteran Games Finals during a debut appearance.
Hundreds of current and former Defence Force personnel battled it out in the most competitive Veteran Games to date, held over 11 and 12 October at Numinbah Valley in Queensland.
Thirteen teams representing the Army, Navy and Air Force from the Northern Territory, Queensland, NSW, the ACT and Victoria competed in a series of military-inspired challenges designed to test endurance, teamwork and problem-solving.
First-time entrants, the Brisbane Veterans Rugby League Football Club, claimed the Veteran Games Shield and the $10,000 first-place prize.
“It was a great competition; tough, well-fought and full of respect. As our first time competing in the Veteran Games, I couldn’t be prouder of the team. The boys dug deep when it mattered most and we left everything out there,” winning team captain Troy Roseman said.
“For us, it’s not just about the result, it’s about showing up for each other, representing our veteran community and proving what camaraderie and resilience look like in action.
“A big thanks to Veterans First Consulting and STAIT, who helped get us here today and take on the challenge, we couldn’t have done it without their support.”
An initiative of Veteran Support Force and now in its third year, the Veteran Games included events such as stretcher carries, rope climbs, obstacle courses, and in a show-stopping finale, the tug of war. This year’s tug of war was the largest in the southern hemisphere.
Veteran Games founder and former Special Forces Officer Heston Russell said 2025 marked the biggest and best games yet.
“We’ve just seen close to 150 veterans compete over two intense days, and it was the most challenging and inspiring Veteran Games we’ve ever held. The camaraderie, the nostalgia, and the impact of this proactive mental health initiative were felt deeply by everyone involved,” he said.
“The 2025 games set a new benchmark. With senior Defence leaders attending in support, our focus now turns to growing the movement and expanding access to more veterans across Australia.
“But we can’t do it alone; we need the support of businesses, communities and policymakers to take this to the next level.”
Spectators and participants also got involved in the Chin-Up Challenge, proudly sponsored by Veterans First Consulting, with $5 donated for every chin-up completed – raising $22,500 for veteran initiatives.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Veteran Games will expand to include its first-ever regional heats in Brisbane and a second heat in Darwin, building momentum ahead of the national finals.
