Support Our Sports Clubs

In 1896, the Adelaide University Sports Association (now AU Sport and Fitness) was established. Today, AU Sport has 39 clubs under its umbrella and manages three on campus gyms and seven venues across South Australia.

AU Sport and Fitness has an independent board and takes great pride in promoting a healthy lifestyle for the University community on and off campus.

When you nominate AU Sport as the preferred beneficiary of your gift, you will be supporting all of our sporting clubs, including those not listed here.

Give to AU Sport

Established in 1881, our Boat Club is one of Australia's oldest rowing institutions. The club proudly counts both state and national representatives among its membership. Adelaide University Boat Club members strive for excellence, and are renowned for their dedication to their sport. 

The club needs support to purchase new boats and to fund shed space for equipment storage.

Give to the boat club

Founded in 1907, the Adelaide University Cricket Club (AUCC) has a proud history as one of the longest established clubs of the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA). The AUCC also fields four teams in the Adelaide Turf Cricket Competition (ATCC) and one Women's SACA 2nd grade T20 and One Day Team. The club offers opportunities for players of all levels to participate.

The club needs support to fund coaching development, offer scholarships to promising student players to progress them to representative honours, and to purchase equipment including helmets and starter kits for students.

Give to AUCC

The Adelaide University Football Club is Australia's largest AFL club, including six senior men's teams that compete in the SA Amateur Football League, and three senior women's teams that compete in the SA Women's Football League, every week.

The club consists of more than 400 registered players every season, with players ranging from social to serious. The club needs support to fund equipment purchases.

Give to the football club

With origins dating back to the 1920’s, the Adelaide University Gliding Club aims to make the sport of gliding as accessible and affordable as possible for members who share a passion for this sport.

Your gift will directly support the purchase of equipment. 

Give to the gliding club

Also known as American football, the Adelaide University Gridiron Club prides itself on its inclusive culture. Players of all skill levels and experience are offered the chance to participate.

The club's senior team recently completed a historic five-peat premiership run, and its junior under-18 team secured back to back titles.

Give to the gridiron club

Recently adding cheerleading to its repertoire, the club has seen an influx in members. Located across two gyms, the cheerleading branch boasts more than 35 members across six teams. The club secured third place in the 2017 National competition and has set its sights even higher for the years to come. 

The Adelaide University Gymnastics & Cheerleading Club urgently needs support to purchase equipment, including mats to cover the sprung floors that are a vital part of the club's success.

Give to the gymnastics and cheerleading club

The Adelaide University Hockey Club was established in 1912 and is one of South Australia's oldest continuing hockey clubs. With more than 200 members, the club proudly fields teams ranging from under 11 mixed teams, through to men's and women's teams competing in the Premier League - the highest level of competition in South Australia. 

We are calling out to our community to assist in raising money for our pitch replacement at West Beach. By making a tax-deductible donation this tax-season, you will help us to upgrade our current pitch to the new Poligras surface by Polytan, the leading supplier of hockey pitches in Australia and around the world. Once the new surface has been installed, all donors who made a gift of $1,000 (or greater) to the Adelaide University Hockey Club will be acknowledged with a paver on our new path to the pitch.

All gifts of $2 or more are tax deductible through the University of Adelaide website, and 100% of your donation will support our club. 

The club needs support to maintain its grounds in West Beach, and to provide development opportunities to talented players.

Give to the hockey club

Our Judo Club offers training for beginners to advanced players, catering to those who are interested in taking up judo as a sport, for fitness, or as a martial art. The Judo Club is proud that 75% of its members are current students. 

The club needs support to establish a dedicated facility with a suitable and permanent mat area. The mat alone will cost approximately $12,000, and the entire project will need $40,000 to be funded.

Give to the judo club

One of the University's newer clubs, the Adelaide University Motorsport Club was formed in 2015 to provide a hub for motorsport enthusiasts on campus, and to provide support for the continuation of the Formula SAE team.

In 2018, the club undertook an ambitious project: designing and building an electric vehicle to compete in the 2018 Formula SAE Australasia competition. Support from donors helped make this a reality.

Give to the motorsport club

The Scuba Diving Club offers underwater enthusiasts the chance to get into the water. The club welcomes all-comers, from beginners who love to snorkel to diving instructors.

The club offers dive and snorkel trips all year round, discounted equipment hire and organises South Australia's only interstate underwater rugby team, the Adelaide White Pointers. The club needs support to build shelters for the clubs' two boats to provide UV protection while at sea, and to buy a towing vehicle that will increase the club's capacity to offer dive activities.

Give to the scuba diving club

As the University's largest sporting club, the Adelaide University Soccer Club proudly hosts more than 40 teams for men, women, girls and boys. Led by experienced coaches and growth-orientated thinkers, the club offers players of all levels of experience the chance to play.

Founded in 1936, the club proudly supports a range of innovative junior programs to encourage young Australians to stay active. The club needs support to fund equipment purchases and ensure the junior programs can be delivered.

Give to the soccer club

The Adelaide University Waterski Club has been offering students and the broader South Australian community the opportunity to develop their water sports skills since 1963.

The club hosts more than 20 events every year, based in Murray Bridge and Morgan. Support is urgently needed to fund equipment ranging from life jackets, wetsuits and helmets, to ropes, skis and wakeboards.

Give to the waterski club

Our cricket and football facilities have supported great successes for more than 100 years. Both clubs have experienced significant growth in recent seasons including the introduction of a first grade women’s premier cricket team and Division 1 women's football team who celebrate their 10th year in competition in 2023. To accommodate the growth, a three-stage plan will be implemented to provide unisex facilities for players and officials as a priority followed by relocation of the cricket nets to add an additional oval for training and games.

Stage one: Refurbishment of historic grandstand change rooms to include unisex change facilities for players and officials. 

Project Cost: $1.13M
Project Start Date: 2022
Project Completion Date: 2023

Stage two: Relocation of cricket nets to open up a third oval at Park 12 and increase playing and training opportunities.

Project Cost: $330k
Project Start Date: 2023
Project Completion Date: 2023

Stage three: Clubrooms, change rooms and umpire facilities to be developed between oval one and two at Park 12. This facility will provide accessible clubrooms, meeting rooms and 2 sets of unisex changerooms.

Estimated Project Cost: $6M
Project Start Date: 2023/24

Donations of over $250 will be recognised on the project honour board and will be invited to the official re-opening of the Grandstand. 

Give to the Park 12 Redevelopment

Plans are in place for the Waite Clubrooms to undergo major redevelopment in 2025 as part of the proposed masterplan for Waite Oval. The proposed new 1,300m2, two storey clubrooms will offer participants four new unisex changerooms, adjoining showers and toilets, a high-performance gym, recovery facilities, referee rooms, and a first-aid room.

The proposed first stage of the redevelopment will also see new social spaces including a function room, bar, café, kitchen, grandstand and public toilet facilities. This stage is estimated to cost $6M, of a $13M total project. The following proposed stages of the project will see the adjacent playing fields completely resurfaced, with a new irrigation system installed. High lux sports lighting will illuminate the perimeter and keep the games going well after dark, offering more and safer training opportunities. A new bitumen car park is also proposed to be added.

Michelle Wilson, General Manager of Adelaide University Sports and Fitness Association, said the broader community use the space to walk their dogs or kick the footy with kids because it's a beautiful spot. 

“In the new facility we'll have a café offering, with revenue helping future-proof the clubs that use that space. This will also allow the sports association to maximise the venue’s potential and connect the community into campus in a positive way,” she said. “It will improve the student experience and offer a place for alumni to reconnect.”

Kim Evans has been involved in rugby for 25 years, and with University sports for 8 years, and is excited about what this redevelopment means for the future. “The Waite Campus is the jewel in the crown. It's internationally recognised for its world class research and teaching. When Peter Waite gifted this wonderful site to the University in 1913, he specifically set aside this corner for University sport – quality sporting facilities were part of his grand vision for the precinct. This project will help this amazing campus reach its broader potential,” she said.

“We’re a big community, including students, adults, kids, all genders, all sexualities, and many different cultures. It isn’t just about running around with a ball on Saturdays; we're creating a welcoming, healthy space for everyone, not just in terms of getting out there and becoming fit and strong, but also for growing as a person in emotional and psychological safety,” Kim Evans said. 

Give to the Waite Redevelopment