On the field and behind the camera: RMIT at UniSport Nationals 2026

Timeo Tournier got the Redbacks’ medal tally started, winning gold in men’s judo across two days of competition. Timeo is part of the RMIT Elite Athlete Program (REAP) and competes in judo internationally.

The taekwondo team brought home 10 medals, three silver and seven bronze. Sitanshu led the way with three medals: silver in black belt sparring, and bronze in both the black belt teams and pairs poomsae. 

The men's hockey team made it to the Division 1 gold medal match, finishing with silver. 

The men’s basketball team gave the week its most dramatic moment, tying the game against the University of Tasmania 60-60 with a three-pointer at the buzzer. Coached all week by injured teammate James Manson, the team went on to finish fifth, just missing out on bronze. 

Cheered on by a crowd of Redbacks, RMIT mascot Rupert Redback took on mascots from across the country in the UniFest mascot race. He didn’t make it past the first round, but made up for it in popularity, posing for photos all week with students from other universities and the public. 

Lacrosse players turned up to watch the basketball, the ultimate frisbee team came to cheer on lacrosse, and at nearly every RMIT game there was another Redbacks team in the crowd. Govind Sussel, captain of the lacrosse team said the support made all the difference.

I always found it really wholesome to run into a familiar face over in WA wearing our Redbacks uniform. This feeling of community was unmatched for me. Hanging out with Rupert Redback was also pretty sweet! 

The team dinners helped build that sense of family. On opening night, teams competed to build the tallest tower out of marshmallows and skewers, with the last one standing crowned champion. 

“A standout moment for me this year was being able to stand up in front of all my fellow Redbacks at the team dinner for the first time and address them as their captain officially,” Govind said.

But it wasn’t just our student athletes who were kicking goals. Three media volunteers captured the action and six sport trainers kept athletes in top shape with chiropractic and osteopathy care.

For second-year Bachelor of Photography student Sam Connellan, it was a first trip with the Redbacks.

“This opportunity allowed me to expand my portfolio and shoot sports outside my comfort zone. We were encouraged to experiment and try different techniques in a low-pressure and positive environment,” he said.

I would highly recommend volunteering at Uni Nationals, as it’s a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in sports media while working in a fast-paced, professional environment.

For Margaritha Jesslyn, now a Social Media Content Creator at RMIT, this year’s Nationals was a return trip.

“Volunteering at UniSport Nationals last year gave me the chance to build real-world skills in quick-turnaround content production, work alongside student athletes and build connections,” she said.

“Returning this year to lead the media team felt like a full-circle moment. I was able to take on more responsibility, lead content coverage on the ground, make decisions in a fast-paced environment and build my leadership skills while supporting the team throughout the event.”

Keen to get involved behind the scenes? Explore volunteering opportunities at RMIT.

Last month, RMIT received FISU Healthy Campus accreditation, joining a network of over 125 universities worldwide. UniSport Nationals ticks off one of the accreditation’s criteria: taking part in a national university sports competition. It also gives students the chance to build connections and a sense of belonging while representing RMIT.

Govind, who graduates this year, has some simple advice for other students.

“My advice? Get involved ASAP. Some of the people you’ll meet in a sport are people who will become lifelong friends,” he said.

“If you enjoy playing a sport or have a hobby, find that club and sign up. I promise you it will be worth it, and you’ll look back on it fondly.” 

Want to represent RMIT next year? Find out more about representative sport.